Exploring Occupation and its Meaning among Homeless Men

Abstract

Few studies have been conducted that address homelessness from the perspective of those who have experienced it. Studies tend to focus on services for homeless people, with little description of occupational engagement and the experiences of the homeless people themselves. This qualitative study, conducted within a phenomenological tradition, explored the lived experiences of adult men living in an inner-city shelter. Eight individual, unstructured interviews were carried out. In addition, three visual notebooks were compiled by the men, using photographs and text that illustrated the occupational realities of their life-world. Inductive, narrative analysis revealed four themes: keeping busy; street-life environment; loss; and revelation and sharing of self. The findings provide insight into the lives of homeless men. They therefore help to inform occupational therapy within a shelter environment in order to facilitate the homeless men moving forward to increased and more meaningful engagement in occupation and independent lives.