Transition from homelessness to becoming housed: A qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Sociology
• Psychology

Background:

• Homelessness presents significant challenges to social reintegration.
• Understanding the transitional experience of individuals moving from homelessness to stable housing is crucial for developing effective support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the transitional experiences of individuals moving from homelessness to becoming housed.
• To identify the core social processes and challenges faced during this transition.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative descriptive study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals who had experienced homelessness and were newly housed.
• Grounded theory was employed for data analysis to identify emergent themes and core categories.

Main Results:

• The primary social problem identified was the 'desire to keep a place to stretch out and lie down'.
• The core social process was 'returning to the social world as a person living an ordinary life', occurring in four distinct phases: discard, struggle, and return.
• Participants navigated a process of re-establishing their identity and place within society after experiencing homelessness.

Conclusions:

• The transition from homelessness to housing is a profound experience involving holistic personal changes.
• Community health nurses play a vital role in supporting newly housed individuals by addressing their practical needs based on their lived experiences.
• Findings can inform self-reliance interventions and social integration programs for individuals experiencing or exiting homelessness.