Respite from stress and other service needs of homeless families.

This paper is a description of qualitative interviews with homeless mothers participating in an outdoor camp program designed as time out from the stressful conditions of shelter living. In addition to evaluation of family satisfaction with camp, the individual interviews and parental discussion groups offered at camp enabled the women to share stories about some of the obstacles they encounter in moving toward self-sufficiency and in parenting their children. Gaps in services to help overcome these obstacles ranged from learning to read to treatment of childhood sexual abuse and more comprehensive substance abuse treatment. Suggestions for expansion of the program to better meet needs of families included support groups and referrals to community mental health services.