AASWSW Fellow News: Homelessness, Suicide Prevention, Conflict Resolution

A Fellow is appointed to a new role, while others examine critical issues such as homelessness and suicide prevention, and conflict solution.

Immigration’s Influence on Rising Homelessness Numbers

January 27, 2025 — A recent Los Angeles Times analysis, using research methods developed by Fellow and Dana and Andrew Stone Professor of Social Policy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, Dennis P. Culhane, suggests that a surge in immigration may have significantly increased homelessness counts in 2024. HUD’s Annual Homelessness Assessment Report cited immigration, along with affordable housing shortages and natural disasters, as key factors behind an 18.2% increase in homelessness nationwide. However, Culhane’s analysis estimates that domestic homelessness likely rose by only about 7%, with the bulk of the increase concentrated in states that absorbed large numbers of immigrants. 

Read the full article from the  Los Angeles Times.

Public Policies That Help Prevent Suicide

January 9, 2025 — Academy President, Dean and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work at New York University Silver School of Social Work Michael A. Lindsey coauthored a study highlighting public policies that effectively reduce suicide rates. The research, published in the Annual Review of Public Health, found that policies increasing the minimum wage, limiting alcohol consumption, and restricting access to lethal means—such as firearm waiting periods—are among the most impactful. The study underscores that social determinants, not just mental health services, play a crucial role in suicide prevention.

Read the full article on U.S. News & World Report.

U of T Appoints New Ombudsperson with Expertise in Conflict Resolution

February 27, 2025 — Fellow and Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto Faye Mishna has been appointed as the university’s next ombudsperson, beginning a three-year term on July 1, 2025. An expert in bullying, cyberbullying, and social work, Mishna has spent her career studying conflict resolution and social norms that influence aggression. As ombudsperson, she will work independently to address university-related complaints and systemic issues. The Governing Council approved her appointment, citing her reputation for fairness, deep institutional knowledge, and commitment to university values.

Read the full article from University of Toronto News.