Stories From the Streets: Identity Management Strategies of Low Status Groups

Abstract

The identity management strategies used to guard against the negative effects of having a "homeless" identity are not known. The aim of this manuscript is to explore how the experiences of homelessness shape perceived identities among individuals who are homeless and influence subsequent management strategies.Unstructured interviews were conducted with individuals living on Skid Row, a large homeless community in Los Angeles, to understand negative perceptions of their current identities and strategies for managing them. The resultsshow that people without resources achieve a positive identity through disclosing their stories. Disclosure allows individuals to maintain a connection to their pre-homeless identities. Providing access to platforms from which to share these stories is a way of providing support, which can aid in breaking the cycle of chronic homelessness; however, gaining access to such platforms is challenging.