‘Society Doesn’t Care About You’: A Qualitative Life-Mapping Study of Neurodivergent People's Experiences of Homelessness

Abstract

Neurodivergent people appear to be over-represented among homeless populations. Neurotypically-designed systems may exclude neurodivergent people, leading to increased economic hardship and likelihood of homelessness. The research was commissioned by a local authority, to better understand neurodivergent people's experiences of homelessness and accessing support in their region. Six participants shared their experiences through semi-structured interviews and life maps. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to determine patterns across participants’ experiences. Codes were organised into three main themes (a) Ambiguity and Grey Areas, particularly regarding diagnosis, (b) Falling Through the Gaps – critical points at which support was lacking, and (c) Moving Through the Maze – navigating support services. Findings suggest that persistent experiences of exclusion, without appropriate support, contributed towards participants becoming homeless. Participants appeared to internalise these experiences, impacting upon their sense of identity. Improving inclusion in all areas of life, including education and employment, is key to homelessness prevention.There is evidence that higher than expected numbers of neurodivergent people are facing homelessness. A local council asked us to do this research, to find out why this might be, and to learn more about how neurodivergent people experience homelessness. Six people took part in the research. They talked about their lives in interviews and made ‘life maps’ to show their journeys. We found three main patterns in what they said. Firstly, people said they had experienced lots of uncertainty which made it difficult to get help. Secondly, there was a lack of support for people when they faced difficult times during education or employment. Finally, when people became homeless it was very hard to work out what to do and where to get help. Because they didn’t get the right help, some people started to believe the problems were their fault, which affected their confidence and how they saw themselves. These findings show how making sure neurodivergent people get the right support during education and employment is important in preventing homelessness.