Family Contexts and Pathways into Homelessness and Substance Use Among Women: A Phenomenological Study

This study explored the lived experiences and family-related factors shaping pathways into substance use and homelessness among women experiencing homelessness in Tehran.

A qualitative phenomenological design was employed using Colaizzi's method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 26 homeless women in Tehran and were analyzed to identify recurring themes related to family experiences, substance use, and homelessness.

The findings revealed multiple interrelated factors contributing to substance use and housing loss, including early and forced marriage, exposure to violence, coercion by male relatives into criminal activities, early sexual experiences, trauma, emotional disengagement from family, and escape from adverse home environments.

These findings highlight the complex interplay of family dynamics, gendered power relations, social pressures, and personal trauma in shaping women's pathways into substance use and homelessness. The results suggest that homelessness among women cannot be understood as the outcome of a single event, but rather as a cumulative process rooted in harmful family and social conditions.

Addressing early trauma and adverse family experiences may improve treatment engagement and strengthen the effectiveness of support services. Preventive and intervention efforts focusing on family violence, trauma, and social support are likely to play an important role in reducing women's risk of homelessness and its associated harms.