Homelessness and Trust: The effects of homeless intake verification on relationships

Abstract

Homeless intake verification requires the witnessing and recording of an individual’s homelessness to access resources. The invasiveness of this verification causes shame, distrust, and perpetuates negative stereotypes of homelessness. This paper argues that verification should be modified to promote more trusting relationships and break negative stereotypes. A shift from a negotiated exchange to a reciprocal exchange will help build more trust, and there is a moral obligation to promote more relationship and break negative stereotypes of homelessness to promote fair equality of opportunity as well as community and solidarity.