Overview

This work examines the multiple factors which contribute to family homelessness, and uses quantitative and qualitative analyses to identify those factors which represent the major barriers to escaping homelessness and supports to housing stability. Results show that family homelessness is not caused by a single issue, but a combination of issues including alcohol/substance abuse, untreated mental illness, domestic violence, family configuration, lack of community or social supports and lack of affordable housing options. The author illustrates that community and social supports provide the single most significant impact on the ability of families to escape homelessness and maintain stable housing. Quantitative data suggests that investing in Community and social supports for homeless families could facilitate their escape from homelessness and increase housing stability for families at risk, whilst reducing these supports might exacerbate the problem of homelessness. Qualitative data indicates that supportive relationships are instrumental to understanding that, while homelessness is a terrible experience, those who experience homelessness are not terrible people. Furthermore, recognizing that a loss of housing does not necessarily mean the loss of one's symbolic representation of 'home' could assist families in viewing homelessness as a transformational learning experience rather than a traumatic failure.

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9780815335818

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Karleen Jackson

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