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Being at the Bottom Rung of the Ladder in an Unequal Society: A Qualitative Analysis of Stories of People without a Home

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  • Mzwandile A. Mabhala

    (Department of Public Health and Wellbeing, Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Chester, Riverside Campus, Chester CH1 1SL, UK)

  • Asmait Yohannes

    (Asmait Skin Care, Southfield Ave, Stamford, CT 06902, USA)

Abstract

Background: Homelessness is rising in the United Kingdom, despite investment in measures to eradicate it made by the government and charity organisations. Aim: The aim is to examine the stories of homeless people in order to document their perceptions of their social status, the reasons that led to their homelessness, and propose a conceptual explanation. Method : We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews in three centres for homeless people in Cheshire, North West of England. Results: Three categories—education, employment, and health—emerged from the data and provided a theoretical explanation for the reasons that led to their homelessness. These are vital not only for the successful negotiation of one’s way out of homelessness, but also for achieving other social goods, including social connections, social mobility, and engaging in positive social relationships. Conclusion : Participants catalogued the adverse childhood experiences, which they believe limited their capacity to meaningfully engage with the social institution for social goods, such as education, social services, and institutions of employment. Since not all people who have misfortunes of poor education, poor health, and loss of job end up being homeless, we contend that a combination of these with multiple adverse childhood experiences may have weakened their resilience to traumatic life changes, such as loss of job and poor health.

Suggested Citation

  • Mzwandile A. Mabhala & Asmait Yohannes, 2019. "Being at the Bottom Rung of the Ladder in an Unequal Society: A Qualitative Analysis of Stories of People without a Home," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-19, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:23:p:4620-:d:289269
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mzwandile Mabhala & Winifred Adaobi Esealuka & Amanda Nkolika Nwufo & Chinwe Enyinna & Chelsea Nonkosi Mabhala & Treasure Udechukwu & John Reid & Asmait Yohannes, 2021. "Homelessness Is Socially Created: Cluster Analysis of Social Determinants of Homelessness (SODH) in North West England in 2020," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-14, March.
    2. David A. Sleet & Louis Hugo Francescutti, 2021. "Homelessness and Public Health: A Focus on Strategies and Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-6, November.
    3. April Jackson & Bridget Callea & Nicholas Stampar & Abigail Sanders & Alberto De Los Rios & Jake Pierce, 2020. "Exploring Tiny Homes as an Affordable Housing Strategy to Ameliorate Homelessness: A Case Study of the Dwellings in Tallahassee, FL," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, January.

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