Many homeless men attribute their ability to get sober to their spirituality, though this may be a product of the spiritual nature of programs like Alcoholics Anonymous. In a study done by Brush and McGee (2000) surveying homeless men in a shelter for recovery, 78% of the respondents commented on how their spiritual views influence their decisions and two-thirds agreed or strongly agreed "to seeking spiritual guidance in daily life experiences." Women Women are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, making up an estimated 32% of the population. Many of these women are single mothers. African American women are disproportionately represented among homeless populations as a result of their increased vulnerability to socioeconomic structures. Homeless women, irrespective of ethnicity, tend to have more health problems than the general public including higher rates of substance abuse and mental health issues, as well as prior victimization. Spirituality is used as a coping mechanism by many women of various ethnicities to deal with the stress of being homeless and/or to recover from substance abuse. It serves as a source of emotional support as well as a motivating force for women to take care of themselves and their families in a healthy way. Many accredit God with their survival and ability to be clean, looking to their spirituality to guide them in parenting. In a study by Shuler (1994), 42% of homeless women surveyed said their beliefs gave them strength and helped them survive. For the women who considered prayer an effective coping mechanism, they experienced considerably less worries and depressive symptoms. Increased spirituality is associated with less substance abuse; for women who do not use drugs or alcohol, religious/moral beliefs are often the basis of their decision. Higher levels of spirituality is also associated with a lowered risk of depression and suicide among homeless women as well as increased health-promoting behaviors. African-American women Research shows that African Americans as a population, especially women, tend to have higher levels of religious involvement and deep ties to faith and spirituality. This is the case for homeless African American women as well; spirituality plays a larger role as a coping mechanism for African American homeless women than other women. Douglas et al. (2008) found that homeless African American women placed a higher importance on spirituality and that lower rates of spiritual well-being among African American homeless mothers resulted in higher anxiety, increased trauma, punitive