Stability Scale The following activity will help people in poverty and those living in unstable situations determine where we are on the Stability Scale.Procedure: Read through the Stability Scale Indicators below. For each indicator (time, housing, etc.) select one of the five descriptions that best describes your situation. Count the selected items in each column (from top to bottom). Enter the amount of selected items for each column on question 16. Select the option on the continuum that represents the stability factor in your life now. Question Title * 1. Time horizon I can't see past today I can plan and complete goals 2 to 8 weeks into the future I can plan and meet goals 2 to 24 months into the future I can plan and meet goals 2 to 4 years into the future I can plan and meet goals 5 to 50 years into the future I can't see past today I can plan and complete goals 2 to 8 weeks into the future I can plan and meet goals 2 to 24 months into the future I can plan and meet goals 2 to 4 years into the future I can plan and meet goals 5 to 50 years into the future Question Title * 2. Housing I have no housing or rely on others for temporary housing solutions I have uncertain housing and spend more than 35% of my income on housing I have secure housing and spend about 35% of my income on housing I have assured housing and spend 30% or less of my income on housing I am buying my house and my mortgage payment is 30% or less of my income I have no housing or rely on others for temporary housing solutions I have uncertain housing and spend more than 35% of my income on housing I have secure housing and spend about 35% of my income on housing I have assured housing and spend 30% or less of my income on housing I am buying my house and my mortgage payment is 30% or less of my income Question Title * 3. Bills I live day to day and help pay bills some of the time Most of my bills are overdue I rarely have overdue bills None of my bills are overdue I live within my budget comfortably and I have a good credit rating I live day to day and help pay bills some of the time Most of my bills are overdue I rarely have overdue bills None of my bills are overdue I live within my budget comfortably and I have a good credit rating Question Title * 4. Emotional I can rarely choose and control my emotional responses; I often behave in ways harmful to myself I can sometimes choose and control my emotions; I sometimes behave in ways that are harmful I almost always choose and control my emotions; I almost never behave in ways that are harmful I am good at choosing and controlling my responses; I almost always engage in positive behaviors I am able to work through major differences and emotional issues with others I can rarely choose and control my emotional responses; I often behave in ways harmful to myself I can sometimes choose and control my emotions; I sometimes behave in ways that are harmful I almost always choose and control my emotions; I almost never behave in ways that are harmful I am good at choosing and controlling my responses; I almost always engage in positive behaviors I am able to work through major differences and emotional issues with others Question Title * 5. Income Less than 50% of my income is from wages and/or child support Fifty to 80% of my income is from wages and/or child support Eighty to 100% of my income is from wages and/or child support 100% of my income is from wages and investments 100% of my income is from wages, investments, bonuses, stock options and/or trust funds Less than 50% of my income is from wages and/or child support Fifty to 80% of my income is from wages and/or child support Eighty to 100% of my income is from wages and/or child support 100% of my income is from wages and investments 100% of my income is from wages, investments, bonuses, stock options and/or trust funds Question Title * 6. Employment I am not employed and have not had a job in some years I work day labor and/or odd jobs; I sometimes work for people who operate 'under the table' I work full-time with few benefits but worry about layoffs and reduction in hours. I work contractually without benefits, vacation, possibility of upward mobility, or employee status I have full-time employment with benefits, vacation, and the possibility of moving up in the company I am not employed and have not had a job in some years I work day labor and/or odd jobs; I sometimes work for people who operate 'under the table' I work full-time with few benefits but worry about layoffs and reduction in hours. I work contractually without benefits, vacation, possibility of upward mobility, or employee status I have full-time employment with benefits, vacation, and the possibility of moving up in the company Question Title * 7. Wages I have no regular pay and earn cash as I can; I rely on public assistance I'm paid a minimum wage that is subsidized by public assistance I'm paid a living wage I'm paid above a self-sufficient wage I'm paid above a self-sufficient wage, bonuses, stock options, and/or matching pension contributions I have no regular pay and earn cash as I can; I rely on public assistance I'm paid a minimum wage that is subsidized by public assistance I'm paid a living wage I'm paid above a self-sufficient wage I'm paid above a self-sufficient wage, bonuses, stock options, and/or matching pension contributions Question Title * 8. Stress My stress comes from having almost no control over the important things in my life My stress comes from having some but not enough control over the important things in my life My stress comes from working hard to stay in control of the important things in my life My stress comes from not being able to maintain the control and security I have achieved in my life I am able to control almost all of the important things in my life My stress comes from having almost no control over the important things in my life My stress comes from having some but not enough control over the important things in my life My stress comes from working hard to stay in control of the important things in my life My stress comes from not being able to maintain the control and security I have achieved in my life I am able to control almost all of the important things in my life Question Title * 9. Physical and Mental Health Problems almost constantly interfere with my work or school Problems often interfere with my work or school Problems sometimes interfere with my work and school Problems rarely interfere with my work or school Problems almost never interfere with my work or school Problems almost constantly interfere with my work or school Problems often interfere with my work or school Problems sometimes interfere with my work and school Problems rarely interfere with my work or school Problems almost never interfere with my work or school Question Title * 10. Legal Issues Legal problems almost daily interfere with my work and school Legal problems often interfere with my work and school Legal problems rarely interfere with my work and school I haven't had any legal problems in a very long time I've never had legal problems Legal problems almost daily interfere with my work and school Legal problems often interfere with my work and school Legal problems rarely interfere with my work and school I haven't had any legal problems in a very long time I've never had legal problems Question Title * 11. Safety People are rarely safe in my house or neighborhood People are often unsafe in my house or neighborhood People are safe in my house and neighborhood much of the time People are safe in my house and neighborhood almost all of the time People are always safe in my house and neighborhood People are rarely safe in my house or neighborhood People are often unsafe in my house or neighborhood People are safe in my house and neighborhood much of the time People are safe in my house and neighborhood almost all of the time People are always safe in my house and neighborhood Question Title * 12. Destructive behaviors of others Destructive behaviors of others often have a great deal of influence on me Destructive behaviors of others occasionally have some influence on me Destructive behaviors of others rarely have any influence on me Destructive behaviors of others have almost no influence on me Destructive behaviors of others have no influence on me Destructive behaviors of others often have a great deal of influence on me Destructive behaviors of others occasionally have some influence on me Destructive behaviors of others rarely have any influence on me Destructive behaviors of others have almost no influence on me Destructive behaviors of others have no influence on me Question Title * 13. Behavior of children My children are pretty much out of control and often interfere with my work or school My children are out of control sometimes and occasionally interfere with my work or school My children behave most of the time and rarely interfere with my work or school My children behave almost all of the time almost never interfere with my work and school My children's behavior never interferes with my work or schoolI have no children My children are pretty much out of control and often interfere with my work or school My children are out of control sometimes and occasionally interfere with my work or school My children behave most of the time and rarely interfere with my work or school My children behave almost all of the time almost never interfere with my work and school My children's behavior never interferes with my work or schoolI have no children Question Title * 14. Transportation The transportation I use is not reliable The transportation I use is often unreliable The transportation I use is generally dependable The transportation I use is almost always dependable The transportation I use is always dependable The transportation I use is not reliable The transportation I use is often unreliable The transportation I use is generally dependable The transportation I use is almost always dependable The transportation I use is always dependable Question Title * 15. Social Connections I spend a lot of time with people who are often in trouble at work, school, or with the law. I spend some time with people who are often in trouble at work, school, or with the law. I spend time with people who are in recovery and those who are on a positive path. I spend time with people who are making positive life choices. I spend time with people who are part of a positive community I spend a lot of time with people who are often in trouble at work, school, or with the law. I spend some time with people who are often in trouble at work, school, or with the law. I spend time with people who are in recovery and those who are on a positive path. I spend time with people who are making positive life choices. I spend time with people who are part of a positive community Question Title * 16. How many selections were made in each column above? Extremely Unstable1 Unstable2 Fairly Stable3 Stable/Secure4 Very Stable5 Number of selections in each column 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Number of selections in each column Extremely Unstable1 menu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Number of selections in each column Unstable2 menu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Number of selections in each column Fairly Stable3 menu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Number of selections in each column Stable/Secure4 menu 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Number of selections in each column Very Stable5 menu Question Title * 17. Which column represents the stability factor in your life now?Please select the column with the highest number from question 16. Extremely Unstable Unstable Fairly Stable Stable/Secure Very Stable Extremely Unstable Unstable Fairly Stable Stable/Secure Very Stable Done
