Who Wants to Work with the Poor and Homeless?

Abstract

This study examines factors associated with MSW students’ (N = 5,793) desires to work with the poor and homeless over the course of their education. Independent variable classes include (1) sociodemographic characteristics; (2) ideological beliefs as they relate to politics; (3) past social work-related experiences; (4) motivations for pursuing a graduate degree in social work; and, (5) field work experience and school attended. Findings show that sociodemographic variables are the least stable predictors of students’ interest in working with the poor and homeless, whereas ideological beliefs and personal motivations appear as the most noteworthy influences upon students’ desires to work with this population.