Backgrounds and perspectives of San Antonio street sleepers

The question of what brings someone to homelessness and keeps them there has many varied and complex answers. The authors believe the answers lie within the persons experiencing homelessness (PEH).

This is an interpretive approach study based on convenience sampling of the San Antonio, TX, unsheltered population, utilizing semi-structured interviews from January 2022 through November 2022.

The six most common themes that emerged from the subjects' backgrounds were 1) jail or prison time or other personally significant legal issues; 2) personal substance abuse or addiction struggles; 3) physical and mental health challenges as an adult; 4) disdain of shelters and preference for rough sleeping; 5) a problematic childhood; 6) did not enjoy school as a child or young adult.

To gain more insight into a situation as complex as the state of homelessness, researchers should meet with those on the frontline of this epidemic and hear first-hand their personal histories, challenges, successes, and suggestions. Though not a novel approach, the researchers found limited previous literature in regard to approach, scope and in relation of causation related to homelessness, especially about the U.S. unsheltered population. The ultimate goal is for such research to help guide outreach services and legislation related to PEH.