Running Head: INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

InterviewReflectionPaper
Interviewee:Dr.TerriLewinson,LMSW,Ph.D.
AssistantProfessorofSocialWorkatGeorgiaStateUniversity,Gerontologist,withafocuson
housinghomelessness.
Interviewedon3/31/15atGSUAlpharettaCampus
Interviewers:ChattrelleGillyard,JamieWilson,KatieGrese,andSyandeneClarke
Interviewreflectionby:KatieGrese

INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

Introduction
AllofthehomelessteamgroupmembersinterviewedDr.TerriLewinsonfor
approximately30minutes,anditwasreallyquiteinterestingtohearwhatshehadtosay.Dr.
LewinsonisanewGerontologist,andhermainfocusisonhomelessnessandhousing,andher
mostcurrentresearchinvolvesindividualslivinginextendedstayhotels.Ourgroupcameup
withalistofquestionstogetherandprioritizedthembeforewemet.Weaskedherquestions
pertainingtotheolderadulthomelesspopulation.Sheencouragedustolookatthe
developmentsthattookplaceintheindividualsmiddleadulthoodyears,aswellasthe
biopsychosocialfactorsoftheindividuals65yearsoldandup.Duringtheinterviewwe
discussedhomelessnessinolderadults,aswellasotheraspectsofhomelessness,andher
researchinvolvingextendedstayhotels.

Analyze
Dr.Lewinsonmentionedlookingatsomeofthedecisionsandotherdevelopmentsin
middleadulthoodmuchmorethanwediscussedyoungadulthood.Shementionedthatmanyof
herstudyparticipantshadgiveneverythingtheyhadtotheirchildrenduringtheirmiddleadult
years,orduringanemptynestingperiod,andthenfoundthemselvesinanunstablesituationof
beingprecariouslyhousedorhomelessintheirolderadultyears.Thiscouldhavebeendueto
healthdifficultiesorseveredtieswithfamilyandfriendsorpeoplewhowereinacaregivingrole
ofsomesort.Shementionedthatmanyofthemenweredependentonwomeninsomeway,
beingamother,significantother,aunt,andsometimessister,andalsothatmenweremore

INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

episodicallyhomelessandhustling.Whenshedescribedhustlingshereferredtohavingajob
andgettingfired,orgettingsick,andshementionedthatmentendtohavemoreepisodesof
homelessnessandendupbackontheirown.
Homelessnessinwomenistransitioning,andwomenarenotasofteninaroletobe
completelyfinanciallydependentonacaregiver.Thenewergenerationofwomenismorestable
andthensomethinghappenstoknockthemofftheirfeetandintoinstabilityandhomelessness.
Also,Dr.Lewinsonsaidthatwomencomplainedoftheirhealthmorethanmen.Someofthese
situationsaresimilartoyoungeradultsexceptthehealthissuesmaynotapplyasmuch.Each
individualhasauniquesetofcircumstanceswhentheyaregrowingupandthereisnoprototype
forhomelessness,howevertherearemanysimilaritiesandtriggers,orriskfactorsthathappenin
youngadulthoodthatcanaffectmiddleadulthood,andthenlateradulthood.

OtherUsefulInformation
Dr.Lewinsonsaidthattheageof5064isthemostvulnerableageofthepopulation,
becausethesepeoplearenotabletohaveaccesstoresourcesandbecomevulnerableto
homelessnessandthispopulationisgrowing.WediscussedHotelLouisvilleinourinterview
andDr.Lewinsonsexperienceofitandshemadeitsoundlikeitwasaworkofartwhereall
resourcesandalllevelsofmacroinvolvementwerecomingtogethertoaffecthomelessnessatall
angles,foramorestreamlinedandindividualizedapproach.
Healthissuesthataremostcommonarehypertensionanddiabetes,andapparentlyalot
ofherinterviewparticipantsdonotcounttheirhighbloodpressureasachronicillness.Other

INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

healthissuesdiscussedincluderespiratoryissues,chronicpain,muscularskeletalissues,and
cancer.

PersonalExperienceImpact
Iamintriguedbythestudiesofhomelessnessandextendedstayhotels,andIamalso
veryimpressedwiththeideaofHotelLouisville.IthinkthattheinputfromDr.Lewinsonis
veryhelpfultoabuddingsocialworkerlivingintheAtlantaareaknowingfullwellthatour
homelesssheltersystemisnotequipped.InterviewingwithmyHBSEIIhomelessgroupwasa
greatexperience,andIfeelasthoughwetouchedonmanyimportanttopicsthatwillenhancemy
knowledgeandfuturedevelopment.

FutureSocialWork
Ithinkthisinterviewhasgivenmealotofveryusefulinformationaboutolderadultsin
general,aswellasthehomelesspopulationandthepopulationthatlivesinextendedstayhotels.
Theinformationaboutextendedstayhotelsmaybeveryusefulinthefuturewhenworkingasa
socialworkerinthestateofGeorgia.Therearenotmanyhomelesssheltersintheoutskirtsof
Atlanta,andasprofessorLewinsonstated,shethinkstherewillbemoreofthevouchersbeing
givenouttohomelesspeopleforextendedstayhotelsdistinctlyforthatpurpose.Homelessness
isnotcenteredindowntownAtlanta,andpeoplewithfamilieslivingoutsideofthecityaregoing
tobeabletokeeptheirchildreninschoolandtheirfamiliestogethermoreeasilyiftheydonot
havetomakethecommutedowntowntoashelter.

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5
Conclusion

Thefacts,ideas,andconceptsdiscussedinourinterviewcombinedwiththesemester
longhomelessnessprojectgivesaninterestingnewperspectivetotheworldfrommyview.I
haveheardofpeoplelivinginextendedstayhotelsinmylife,buthaveneverseenthesidethat
involveshomelessnessandshelters.Extendedstayhotelsincludeprivacy,aflatrate,no
commitment,nocurfews,familiesgettingtostaytogether,andindividualsremainautonomous.
Dr.Lewinsonwasverygracioustointerviewourgroupforthisprojectandweareverygrateful.
Themostinterestingthingdiscussed,personally,wasthefactthatalotoftheindividualsthathad
chronicillnessbecameaburdentotheirfamiliesandhealthdisparitiescanquicklychangean
individualsstabilityandhousingsituation.

INTERVIEW REFLECTION PAPER

References
TerriLewinson,Ph.D.(GroupinterviewinpersonwithChattrelleGillyard,SyandeneClarke,
JamieWilson,andKatieGrese,May31,2015).