Understanding the journey through homelessness: A hermeneutic study of women without children

Abstract

This study explored the meaning of the experience of homelessness and exiting homelessness among women without children. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were used to recruit 12 women in an urban centre in Canada. Texts resulting from audiotaped interviews, participant observations, and reflective journal entries constituted datafor analysis. Gadamerian hermeneutics informed the interpretive method used for analysis. The analysis yielded 5 subthemes that described the journey: (a) loss of self at home: the trigger; (b) non-feeling of "at-homeness": dissociation; (c) disconnection and aloneness: homelessness; (d) simulating home: transitional shelter living; and (e) finding oneself: hopefulness. Findings suggest that exiting homelessness for women was a journey in search of hope, and reconnection with the self and others. This perspective suggests a new approach for policy and practice. © Copyright 2013 - Canadian Periodical for Community Studies Inc.