Mandala as a Measure of Change with Adult Residents of a Homeless Shelter

Homelessness in the United States is a problem that continues to be addressed at the local, state, and federal levels. Diverse solutions to the problem of homelessness include emergency shelters, transitional shelters, and long-term housing. Shelters for families have become a common shelter type, offering diverse programs and types of services. Art therapy with the homeless has concentrated on the aspect of building self-efficacy through the creative process, however, there is limited research concerning the use of art products as a measure of change for the homeless. This study explores the use of mandala drawings to assess changes occurring in homeless adults in response to services provided in a shelter setting. The results of the study that placed mandala drawings in stages on The Great Round of Mandala support the use of mandala drawings to assess change in homeless populations.