What are effective strategies for developing rapport with clients experiencing homelessness?

1) Make ZERO assumptions about how they became homeless 2) Empathy and compassion with a good sprinkling of kindness 3) Understand that if they express anger it has nothing to do with you 4) Celebrate and acknowledge their strengths while supporting the needs 5) Understand they might have mental illness (and not) but if so, appropriate intervention might be necessary and yo might not be the appropriate person to do that 6) Be knowledgeable about all the housing programs and subsidies and help them apply 7) See if there are medical issues needing immediate attention 8) Basic dignity: shower, toiletries, clothing, food-need the basics before the brain is willing to move forward

1) LISTEN, LISTEN and LISTEN ACTIVELY 2) The unhoused are used to judgment, this is not the place for it. There is power for reflections to understand where they are coming from. 3) Ask them what they need and help them manage the expectation around it. The result they are seeking may take time. 4) Put on lens of "IDENTIFYING instead of COMPARING" 5) This is their 100%. Understand that they are doing the best with what they have been given. 6) Anger and frustration are natural. We would be angry and frustration in the same situation. 7) Recognize your scope of care. If there is a mental health issue, ask for assistance or refer out. 8) Remember their name. This often gets overestimated.

In my experience deep listening is essential. No judgement. No advice. Listen and reflect back. Empathize don’t sympathize. Acknowledge their challenges. Do not try to fix.

Do not diminish their efforts. Continually acknowledge they are doing their best in a very challenging situation. If anger is expressed set clear boundaries and hold space with compassion for their anger to be expressed while safeguarding your well being.

It is important to acknowledge that they are the number one experts of their own lives experience. Explore with them what their objectives and motivations are. Remember that there is no such thing as external motivating factors. If you explore deep enough everything can be linked to an internal desire. We must be comfortable in accepting that a persons goals don’t necessarily align with those of our institutions or organizations and be willing to accompany them in the direction that they choose. Our objective should not be to direct, teach, or choose in their stead but rather to provide a space for reflection and information about opportunities and possibilities. Above all meet the person on their terms. The key is pragmatism.

Rapport refer to kind of agreement or mutual understanding, empathy to make communication easier so it needs communication and interaction skills,Strategy for develop rapport could be extraversion accelerates that increase confidence and skillfulness in social settings.Mirroring or coordination to resembling verbal or nonverbal behavior like emotional or empathetic feeling towards them,matching tone of voice with body language,attentiveness by reciprocation of nonverbal behaviors like smiling or nodding, positive face management,asking engaging and open ended questions,get feedback and measures effectiveness.