Re‐building Bridges: Homeless People's Views on the Role of Vocational and Educational Activities in Their Everyday Lives

Abstract

Homeless people face everyday challenges of marginalisation and stigmatisation. Consequently, they can suffer from low self-confidence, selfefficacy and agency. Empirical research in Britain on educational, skill-building and meaningful activities for homeless people principally emphasises the instrumental value of training and learning as a route to employment rather than the impact of activities on homeless people's everyday lives. Theoretical literature suggests that psychosocial benefits related to the development of selfefficacy, agency and empowerment can be gained from such activities.Participants' experiences and perceptions of educational and recreational activities were examined through 29 interviews at three homeless day centres in London. Thematic analysis suggests the restorative power of engagement in activities and shows that participants value activities, not only as the foundation for future goals of finding employment and housing, but as an immediate way of restoring a sense of self and finding positive experiences with a focus on the present. The findings underline the importance of viewing these interventions from a 'bottom-up' perspective. The study tentatively concludes that accepting and emphasising the immediate personal benefits as a positive achievement of activities may be a valuable approach to better engage homeless clients.

Occupational experiences of homelessness: A systematic review and meta-aggregation

“…The community as a context for engagement and belonging. Nine themes representing eight studies characterised the community as a rich context for engaging in meaningful activities with others and facilitating belonging [2,4,6,7,30,34,35,37]. Participants reported that they engaged in activities that either strengthened relationships within their families or created "street families."…”

“…Parents living in a family shelter with their children preserved family routines by maintaining schedules that facilitated community connection [4]. The need to negotiate the social contexts of their environments on an ongoing basis, and the isolation that resulted from being excluded from mainstream activities such as employment were identified in two studies as factors leading to a loss of belonging and stigma associated with homelessness [6,7,34]. Participants in one study noted that places once utilised by the general public had been largely coopted by homeless persons, and became important places in which to find and engage in activities of meaning [35].…”

“…Meaningful activity as spiritual and transformational. Five themes extracted from five studies identified the ways in which the experience of engaging in meaningful activities led to existential experiences and personal transformation [2,7,8,33,34]. Activities were seen as a diversion from the chaotic experiences of homelessness, and provided homeless women with time to contemplate their circumstances [2].…”

“…Activities were seen as a diversion from the chaotic experiences of homelessness, and provided homeless women with time to contemplate their circumstances [2]. Participants identified that it was in the context of meaningful activities that they gained access to a sense of quietness that led to personal revelations about the self [7,8,34]. Participants noted that what would typically be considered "ordinary" to those who are housed can was imbued with spiritual significance for homeless persons.…”

“…Three themes extracted from three studies identified that engaging in meaningful activity both informed, and was informed by personal identity [1,2,34]. Being connected with others through activity informed the identities of participants [34], and shaped one's identity through engagement [2]. Re-engaging in activities that participants enjoyed in their pasts affirmed their past identity within the context of the present [1].…”