Escaping homelessness: anticipated and perceived facilitators

Abstract

One study with two distinct sections was conducted to identify factors facilitating escape from homelessness. In Section 1, 58 homeless individuals rated possible facilitators of escape (factors they believed would help them become more independent and self-sufficient). In Section 2, 80 participants who had already exited homelessness rated the same facilitators (factors that would have helped them become more independent and self-sufficient) and the importance of actual factors that facilitated escape. When rating factors in the hypothetical, both groups rated obtaining housing as being particularly important for facilitating movement toward independence. People formerly homeless who reported perceived facilitators of escape, however, also reported that their escape was facilitated by realization of their own abilities and potential to offer something to the world. The findings have implications for the design of community interventions helping individuals who are homeless. C 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Many aspects of homelessness deserve the attention of academics. This study focused on facilitators of escape from homelessness as perceived by people currently or previously homeless. Understanding the perceptions of people who are homeless is important because an understanding of their perceptions can improve social policy. Policy that ignores the felt needs of people who are homeless may not only lack compassion for these vulnerable people, but may also fail to achieve objective goals such as helping people move towards independence.

Life Satisfaction, Hope, and Positive Emotions as Antecedents of Health Related Quality of Life Among Homeless Individuals

“…However, a smaller yet growing portion of research into homelessness has moved toward identifying the psychological strengths necessary for well-being despite homelessness (Tweed et al 2012;Kidd and Davidson 2007;BiswasDiener and Diener 2006;Kosor and Kendall-Wilson 2002). In fact, psychological strengths are also important to overcoming homelessness, as found in a study by Patterson and Tweed (2009) of formerly homeless individuals that suggests psychological strengths can fuel the resilience necessary to overcome barriers, such as poverty, that perpetuate homelessness. An additional study of individuals who were formerly homeless also supports that psychological strengths help to generate the determination needed to escape homelessness (MacKnee and Mervyn 2002).…”

Psychache and Suicide Ideation among Men Who Are Homeless: A Test of Shneidman’s Model

“…Further, as stated earlier, Shneidman (1999) suggested that psychache is caused by unfulfilled needs which, if unmet, may lead to psychache. Research findings are that homeless people feel socially outcast, alone, and inferior (Patterson & Tweed, 2009). Given that people who are homeless likely have various unfulfilled needs (although no research currently exists), psychache is thus expected to be especially prevalent among homeless individuals.…”

Overcoming: A Concept Analysis

“…Patterson and Tweed (2009) noted that while a large body of evidence supports the relationship between social support and well‐being, there is evidence that those struggling with poverty have little if any support mechanisms and may not perceive them in the same ways as non‐impoverished individuals. In a study with homeless individuals, for example, they asked participants to rate the level to which support was needed to move out of homelessness.…”