phase 1: A national Survey

Phase 1 of this study was a national survey of the homeless services workforce, which launched on November 1st of 2022 and concluded on March 31st 2023. Participants had to be at least 18 years old and working in an agency/program that primarily provides services to people experiencing homelessness or people recently housed after a period of homelessness. 

As the first attempt in nearly 30 years to survey the homeless services workforce in the United States, this survey aimed to answer the following research questions:

• What are the demographics, background characteristics, and experiences of the workforce?
• What primary stressors do workers face?
• How satisfied are workers with the benefits, resources, and supports they receive at work?
• What factors contribute to burnout, compassion satisfaction, and compassion fatigue?
• What factors contribute to intention to leave?

It is hoped that the answers to these questions will inform professional development and training offerings, expanding employer-based benefits and supports, strengthening supervision, and reducing turnover. Because of this, the survey results are valuable for homeless service agencies, policy makers, funders, and other researchers.