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UR-Linked

A searchable database, UR-Linked allows aspiring undergraduate researchers, scholars, and artists to connect with faculty mentors across campus. UR-Linked includes faculty profiles as well as more specific information about their research projects and artistic endeavors.


*Examples: Vietnam War, Women Composers, Astronomy, Labor Policy, Urban Education, Earthquakes, Magical Realism, Cyber-Security, Entrepreneurship

The Effects of Earn-a-Bike among Homeless Men

    PROF, ASOC - Amanda Grimes

    Contact Detail
    Amanda Grimes
    grimesa@umkc.edu
    8162351737


    Description

    Homelessness continues to be a pervasive public health and social justice issue across the nation. Unfortunately, some of the greatest needs of the homeless are not met through traditional resources and agencies, given limited resources and the focus on immediate needs such as food and shelter. One pressing—and often unmet—need of the homeless is transportation. Access to reliable transportation is crucial to homeless individuals who must seek shelter, employment, and medical services, all while maintaining relationships with loved ones. The specific aim of the proposed study is to determine the bicycle’s impact on physical health, access to health care, self-esteem, social capital, and employment. In order to explore these outcomes, in-depth, open-ended interviews were conducted with 10 homeless men who graduated from the earn-a-bike program offered through a local homeless outreach agency or otherwise acquired a bike while experiencing homelessness. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using NVivo software. Initial study findings suggest that homeless men experience several positive impacts from owning a bicycle and value the independence they gained. Maintaining employment, strengthened relationships, improved health and fitness, and increased self-confidence emerged as important outcomes for homeless men who are bike owners. New unresolved challenges included bike theft and lack of secure parking and storage. This study provided insight in into a cost-effective and sustainable intervention to improve transportation, employment, perceived health, connection to loved ones, and self-confidence in homeless men. Findings also highlighted challenges, some that can be mitigated by providing bike locks.


    Project-related Tags
    Bicycling  Health  Homeless  


    Last Updated
    Feb 20, 2018


Now that UR-Linked has helped you to identify a faculty project that interests you and for which you might be qualified, be sure to review the essential steps in contacting a potential faculty mentor.

The Director of Undergraduate Research, Dr. Jane Greer., can provide you with further guidance about finding and connecting with faculty mentors at UMKC.

Once you have reviewed the essential steps to prepare for connecting with a potential faculty mentor, you can use the "Contact Details" for this project to connect with the faculty member and to begin a conversation about how you might get involved.