Community Voices: Insights on Social and Human services from People with Lived Experiences of Homelessness

Abstract

Community Voices is a participatory action research study conducted in collaboration with people with lived experiences of homelessness in Calgary, Alberta to gather insights into service provision. Following convenience and snowball recruitment strategies, seven focus groups with members of the homeless community were conducted by trained facilitators. Participants and other community members were invited as coresearchers to analyze focus group transcripts, highlight key issues, develop themes and recommendations, and share key findings with stakeholders. Study findings suggest that people who are homeless experience oppression at the personal, cultural and structural levels which make it less likely for them to exit homelessness. Our findings suggests that a housing first approach coupled with intensive personalized case management embedded within a human rights framework has the capacity to reduce homelessness and overcome the barriers that prevent individuals from exiting homelessness. Such interventions, however, require substantial investment to increase the stock of affordable housing units, improve current shelter facilities, and educate personnel in anti-oppressive practices and a political commitment to recognize housing as a human right.

Voices Should Be Heard: What Personal Stories of Homelessness Teach Us About Practice

“…On the systemic level, we recommend rethinking protocol and service structure, focusing beyond today, incorporating a storytelling approach, and investing in staff development and support. Using the three levels of oppression as a framework (Walsh et al, 2016), the following recommendations are offered.…”

“…Negative attitudes, biases, beliefs, and behaviors can be expressed both consciously and unconsciously, reinforcing individual oppression. Oppression is further perpetuated by reinforcing stereotypes and stigmas (Walsh et al, 2016). Service providers can confront these two levels of oppression most directly in the ways they engage individuals needing services.…”

“…Addressing the larger social problem of homelessness requires confronting stereotypes that exist about people experiencing homelessness and challenging social structures that create and perpetuate large-scale marginalization (Finley & Calabrese Barton, 2003; Taylor, 2013). Walsh, Lorenzetti, St. Denis, Murwisi, and Lewis (2016) argue that practice strategies and service delivery, in particular, must address three levels of oppression: individual, cultural, and systemic.…”

“…The systemic level of oppression occurs when the structure of society has and perpetuates inequalities in wealth, privilege, and power between the sick and the poor or those stigmatized as “lower class” (Walsh et al, 2016, pp. 29–30).…”

Family Experiences of Homelessness in Massachusetts: The Case for Family-Centered Care

“…Most CBPR employs qualitative approaches to learn about families. Common qualitative techniques include photoblogging and photovoice; 26,27,28,29 semistructured interviews and focus groups; 30,31,32 creative writing and performance art; 33,34 and participatory mapping techniques. 35,36 Goals of qualitative CBPR are to identify community and individual assets, develop understanding of how consumers perceive their families' needs, and enable participants to give voice to their challenges and struggles.…”