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Marshall CA, Phillips B, Holmes J, Todd E, Hill R, Panter G, Easton C, Landry T, Collins S, Greening T, O’Brien A, Jastak M, Ridge R, Goldszmidt R, Shanoff C, Laliberte Rudman D, Carlsson A, Aryobi S, Szlapinski J, Carrillo-Beck R, Pacheco N, Perez S, Oudshoorn A. "I can't remember the last time I was comfortable about being home": lived experience perspectives on thriving following homelessness. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2023; 18:2176979. [PMID: 36803094 PMCID: PMC9946331 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2176979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Strategies for preventing and ending homelessness are frequently measured by their effectiveness on indices of tenancy sustainment. To shift this narrative, we conducted research to identify what is needed to "thrive" following homelessness from the perspectives of persons with lived experience in Ontario, Canada. METHODS Conducted in the context of a community-based participatory research study aimed at informing the development of intervention strategies, we interviewed 46 persons living with mental illness and/or substance use disorder [n = 25 (54.3%) unhoused; n = 21 (45.7%) housed following homelessness] using qualitative interviews. A subsample of 14 participants agreed to engage in photovoice interviews. We analysed these data abductively using thematic analysis informed by health equity and social justice. RESULTS Participants described experiences of "living in a state of lack" following homelessness. This essence was expressed through four themes: 1) housing as part one of the journey to home; 2) finding and keeping "my people"; 3) meaningful activity as critical for thriving following homelessness; and 4) struggling to access mental health supports in the context of challenging circumstances. CONCLUSIONS Individuals struggle to thrive following homelessness in the context of insufficient resources. There is a need to build on existing interventions to address outcomes beyond tenancy sustainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie Anne Marshall
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada,CONTACT Carrie Anne Marshall Assistant Professor Western University, Occupational Therapy Director, Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab – www.sjmhlab.com Faculty of Health Sciences Elborn College, Room 2533 1201 Western Rd., London, ON, Canada N6H 1H1 Tel: 519 661-2111 Ext. 88956
| | - Brooke Phillips
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Julia Holmes
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Eric Todd
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | | | - George Panter
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Corinna Easton
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | | | - Sarah Collins
- Salvation Army London Centre of Hope, London, Canada
| | | | | | - Marlo Jastak
- Addiction and Mental Health Services Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFLA), Kingston, Canada
| | | | - Rebecca Goldszmidt
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Chelsea Shanoff
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | | | | | - Suliman Aryobi
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Jessica Szlapinski
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Rozelen Carrillo-Beck
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Nicole Pacheco
- Social Justice in Mental Health Research Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Shauna Perez
- Addiction and Mental Health Services Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFLA), Kingston, Canada
| | - Abe Oudshoorn
- School of Nursing, Western University, London, Canada
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