Lisa Maher, Eloise Dunlap, and Bruce D. Johnson and Ashley Hamid did this study. The purpose of this study was to show the alternative arrangements that women in crack-culture environments make to survive along with their personal security.

Two ethnographic studies were done in New York City over a period from 1988-1992. They sampled many women from low-income neighborhoods, different ages, race and ethnic backgrounds and exhibited different diversity in their drug careers. During the two studies conducted, a central theme emerged. The majority of these women did not have conventional place or home to eat, sleep pay rent etc... Many of the data was collected through diaries, transcribed tape recordings interviews.

The most common alternative living arrangements was living with older males. Many of these men had few economic resources, had low paying jobs or social security. They were able to provide these young women with a place to rest, wash up and sometimes food. But many of these accommodations came at a price, many of the women either paid in sex, drugs or if they had it cash. These men were able to have younger women around and could exert some control over the women in what they did. They could also have them do household work such as cleaning, laundry and cooking. There were two other options that many women turned to was Cash for shelter and Crack for shelter. This simply as that the women paid cash to the landlord or male or they paid in crack. Most common was sex for shelter, many of these men would s

Some common words found in the essay are:
Occupancy SRO, York City, Help Friends, Ashley Hamid, Shelter Accomodations, arrangements women, alternative living arrangements, living arrangements, section called, crack culture, welfare hotels, sell drugs, women paid, alternative living,
Approximate Word count = 543
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)