Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PHD - Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Sue Motulsky
Second Advisor
Susan Gere
Third Advisor
Christine Laguna
Abstract
Homelessness, or the lack of consistent and safe shelter, is a byproduct of nearly every social justice issue in the United States, including racism, sexism, income disparities, and inadequate education and healthcare. Chronic homelessness is a term used to describe an individual who has spent at least one year or repeated events totaling one year in homelessness, coupled with a disabling condition such as mental illness, physical disability, or substance use. Chronically homeless men deserve study because they make up the largest subgroup of the homeless population, are disproportionately men of color, and experience significant levels of traumatic stress. While this subpopulation of homeless individuals makes up 20% of the general homeless population and utilizes most of the homeless services resources, little is known about their experiences from their perspective. This study sought to understand the lived experiences of chronically homeless men pursuing affordable housing, particularly what enables them to persist. The findings were derived from nine semi-structured interviews with photo-elicitation with chronically homeless men who were actively pursuing housing or had recently obtained it. All participants named challenges to obtaining housing that resulted in re-traumatizing experiences for them. They also shared strategies they utilize to cope with and overcome these challenges, including emotional, relational, and task-oriented strategies. Black participants discussed their experiences of racism during their housing search. The findings support the need for culturally responsive and trauma-informed care within homeless services. Utilizing this approach, organizations, case managers, and counselors can support clients’ resiliency and minimize re-traumatization.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Number of Pages
163
Recommended Citation
Cardoso, Serena MA, LMHC, "The Pursuit of Housing: Chronically Homeless Men and Their Experiences Seeking Affordable Housing" (2021). Counseling and Psychology Dissertations. 10.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/counseling_dissertations/10
