The role of compassion and ‘Tough Love’ in caring for and supporting the homeless: experiences from ‘Catching Lives’ Canterbury, UK

Abstract

Homelessness is a wide-spread problem which can lead to high vulnerability and social exclusion. There are many reasons why a person may become homeless, with relationship breakdown being reported as a common cause. Homeless people often encounter a number of other problems such as mental and physical health issues and problems with drugs and alcohol which might represent either a cause or an effect of homelessness. A compassionate approach towards the homeless is crucial, whether this be explicit in taking action to deal with basic needs, or implicit with more of a ‘tough love’ approach in encouraging motivation and independence to help people re-build their lives. This paper takes recent experiences from a local homeless charity ‘Catching Lives’ in Canterbury, UK, and discusses these in the light of recent literature. Drawing on such experiences, the paper aims to draw attention to the issue of homelessness and the importance of a compassionate approach. The paper concludes by summarizing the findings, and encouraging the importance of a compassionate approach towards addressing the needs of the homeless. With the correct support and understanding, individuals can learn to take control and re-build their lives.