"We Need to Put the People Back into It:" A Participant-Driven Exploration of Homelessness

WE NEED TO PUT THE PEOPLE BACK INTO IT:” A PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN EXPLORATION OF HOMELESSNESS Rebecca Long, B.S. Marquette University, 2014 Homelessness is a phenomenon that has been studied for decades. The homeless have been counted, analyzed, recounted, identified, grouped, and categorized. Their profiles and trends have been stored in massive database systems such as the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). A wealth of literature exists exploring who the homeless are and why they are homeless. What seems to be lacking in the homelessness literature is a thorough analysis of issues and solutions from the perspectives of the individuals who know homelessness the best—those who have experienced it. Structural issues such as housing and poverty are crucial components of any solution, and they are explored ad nauseam in the literature. While researchers contend that dignity, selfesteem and identity may be just as important to satisfy as basic needs in order to end homelessness, these themes still have not been fully explored. The purpose of this study was to create a forum for participants to raise issues about homelessness and advise possible solutions. Issues and solutions were then organized through the lenses of dignity, identity and self-esteem, since all participants discussed these themes in detail. A PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN EXPLORATION OF HOMELESSNESS i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Rebecca Long, B. S. I would like to thank Adam and my family for encouraging my faith and desire for justice. I would like to thank Dr. Caulfield, Emily Hernandez and Felisa Parris for making this project a reality. Special thanks to the Trinity Fellows program and Carole, for challenging me personally and academically. I would also like to thank the staff, supervisors and residents at the Immaculate Conception Shelter and Housing Corporation in Hartford, CT for all of their love, support and encouragement. A PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN EXPLORATION OF HOMELESSNESS ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . i LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES.iv CHAPTER I. WE NEED TO PUT THE PEOPLE BACK INTO IT” . 1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW Defining Homelessness . 2 Dignity and Homeless Services . 3 Identity and Homelessness . 6 III. METHODOLOGY Methodology . 10 Sampling and Demographics . 11 IV. SURVEY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Survey Results and Discussion . 13 V. INTERVIEW RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 17 VI. OVERARCHING THEME 1: BARRIERS TO EXITING HOMELESSNESS External Barriers—race, class and gender . 18 External Barriers—internalizing oppression . 21 External Barriers—physical and mental health . 23 External Barriers—technology, “out of touch. ” . 25 Dignity Barriers—extreme dignity violation in shelters . 26 Dignity Barriers—supportive housing dignity violations . 31 Dignity Barriers—supportive housing dignity promotions . 33 A PARTICIPANT-DRIVEN EXPLORATION OF HOMELESSNESS iii Dignity Barriers—life on the streets . 34 Identity Barriers—family and friendship . 37 Identity Barriers—employment as identity . 39 Identity Barriers—stigma and identity.42 VII. OVERARCHING THEME II: SOLUTIONS TO EXITING HOMELESSNESS Positive Self-esteem and Identity Creation . 44 “The Jokester” . 44 Street toughness and street smarts . 46 Humanity and dignity . 48 Employment and education . 50 Creative Solutions . 52 Doubling up . 53 Collective impact . 54 VIII. CONCLUSION Limitations and future research . 54 Conclusion . 56 IX. REFERENCES . 59