91´«Ã½

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), on a single night in January 2016, 549,928 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States. This population includes men, women, children, and families. They face a wide range of challenges including lack of affordable housing, employment opportunities, healthcare, and other needed services. As many public librarians know, with no safety net to speak of, homeless citizens often turn to the library for help. We’ve started this list of resources and related reading as a way to help libraries provide the best possible service to this group. We welcome your input!

To find further answers to your questions, participate in important conversations, and locate additional resources that can help your library provide the best service, on 91´«Ã½ Connect. This group is open to the public, but an 91´«Ã½ login is required to join.

PLA Resources

PLA Social Worker Task Force

Public Library Social Work—Overview of Trauma-Informed Care (PDF, 1 pg.)

Public Libraries Online

by Jean Badalamenti and Elissa Hardy (February 19, 2019)

by Leah Esguerra (January 4, 2019)

by Patrick Lloyd (December 13, 2018)

by Alyson Iuchs (August 8, 2017)

by Sara Fiore (February 10, 2017)

by Andrew Hart (January 26, 2017)

by Kimberly Knight (December 29, 2016)

by Mary Beth Zeman (June 3, 2015)

by Mark Troknya (May 14, 2015)

by Brian Smith (March 24, 2015)

by Jenna Nemec-Loise (September 23, 2014)

by Amy Mars (April 26, 2013)

by Sara Zettervall (February 12, 2013)

Public Libraries Magazine

by Josh Berk (November/December 2014 issue)

by Sara Zettervall (March/April 2015 issue)

by John Spears (November/December 2014 issue, PDF, 2 pgs.)

by Kenya Johnson, Amber Mathewson, and Karyn Prechtel (January/February 2014 issue)

by Amy Mars (March/April 2012 issue)

by several authors (November/December 2011 issue, PDF, 10 pgs.)

by Lee Price (January/February 2009 issue, PDF, 3 pgs.)

Aiming High, Reaching Out, and Doing Good: Helping Homeless Library Patrons with Legal Information by Linda Tashbrook (January/February 2009 issue, PDF, 76 pgs.)

PLA Webinars

Understanding and Serving People Experiencing Homelessness: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Library Service – A Free Two-Part Webinar Series

91´«Ã½ Resources

Outreach Resources for Services to Poor and Homeless People

Tool and Resources

Social Responsibilities Round Table – Extending Our Reach – Reducing Homelessness Through Library Engagement (PDF, 8 pgs.)

Serving At-Risk Patrons: Lessons from Library Social Workers

by Ellyn Ruhlman (American Libraries, November 24, 2014)

Additional Resources

by Sophie Quentin (April 4, 2016)

(Wikipedia)

(USICH)

(November 2016)

(2016)