Many of the people you work with in homelessness services have experienced significant adversity in childhood. Not all of them — and it is important never to assume. But understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their long-term effects is one of the most important pieces of knowledge you can bring to this work.
ACEs are potentially traumatic events that happen before the age of 18 — things like abuse, neglect, domestic violence, parental substance use, or the loss of a parent. Research consistently shows that people who experienced multiple ACEs are at significantly higher risk of a wide range of difficulties in adulthood: mental health problems, substance use, physical health conditions, relationship difficulties, and, yes, homelessness.
This module explains what ACEs are, what the evidence tells us about their effects, and — crucially — what this means for how you approach the people you work with. Understanding ACEs does not mean making assumptions. It means approaching people with greater curiosity, compassion, and a clearer understanding of why people are the way they are.
This is a Foundation-level module, relevant to everyone in homelessness services.