Social support for homeless people: Interface with health, human rights and subjective dimension

Abstract

The discussions on social support and its relations with health, human rights and subjective dimensions in the lives of homeless people are relevant in view of the growth of this population in all cities of Brazil and the world with the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this research was to analyze the social support of homeless people in Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil), considering these three dimensions. The research was carried out with the application of 236 valid questionnaires to people living on the streets of Fortaleza in 2019. The most sought-after sources of social support by the homeless people were God, the Pop Center and Homeless Friends, and those less sought after were CAPS, the National Movement of the Homeless Population (MNPR) and the Therapeutic Communities. The processes of humiliation and shame were experienced with repercussions in health, human rights and subjective dimensions. Homeless people suffer high discrimination and is not considered as rights subjects, which reveals the State's disregard in proposing public policies.