This article presents a combined strengths-feminist framework for work
with homeless women. The framework focuses on the survival skills of
homeless women (many of whom are mothers and victims of wife abuse)-re
sources that emergency room social workers and others who work with ho
meless women call tap. It contrasts sharply with much of the social wo
rk literature on homelessness that focuses on the pathology of persons
who are homeless, particularly their mental illness, alcoholism, and
drug abuse.