“Homelessness Is Not a Choice!” The Plight of Homeless Women With Preschool Children Living in Temporary Shelters

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of homeless women with preschool children living in temporary shelters. Two shelters were selected as sites for data collection: a large metropolitan shelter housing up to 110 women and children and a small shelter providing housing for up to six families. Six focus groups were conducted that included a total of 29 participants. An interpretive phenomenological approach to data analysis was used. Themes and exemplars were identified. The interpretation of the data was brought back for group validation to assure the analysis presented an accurate reflection of the women’s voices. The findings from this study may be used to understand the experiences of homeless women with preschool children living in temporary shelters. Shelter sites offer nurses a unique practice setting in which innovative interventions could be designed to promote the health and welfare of homeless women and their children.