Family matters in Canada: understanding and addressing family homelessness in Ontario.
Canada
Family
Homeless
Homelessness
Shelter
Strategies
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
29 03 2022
29 03 2022
Historique:
received:
19
01
2021
accepted:
10
03
2022
entrez:
30
3
2022
pubmed:
31
3
2022
medline:
6
4
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Homelessness is becoming an international public health issue in most developed countries, including Canada. Homelessness is regarded as both political and socioeconomic problems warranting broad and consistent result-oriented approaches. This paper represents the qualitative findings of a project that explored risk factors associated with family homelessness and strategies that could mitigate and prevent homelessness among families using a focused ethnographic study guided by the principles of participatory action research (PAR). The sample includes 36 family members residing at a family shelter who participated in focus groups over two years (between April 2016 and December 2017). Most of the participants were single-parent women. The analysis yielded five major themes including, life challenges, lack of understanding of the system, existing power differentials, escaping from hardship, and a theme of proposed solutions for reducing family homelessness in the community. The findings illustrated the complex nature of family homelessness in Ontario; that the interaction of multiple systems can put families at risk of homelessness. Findings from this study underscore the need for urgent housing protocols aimed at educating homeless families on how to navigate and understand the system, enhance their conflict resolution skills, and develop strategies beyond relocation to help them to cope with difficulties with housing.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Homelessness is becoming an international public health issue in most developed countries, including Canada. Homelessness is regarded as both political and socioeconomic problems warranting broad and consistent result-oriented approaches.
METHODS
This paper represents the qualitative findings of a project that explored risk factors associated with family homelessness and strategies that could mitigate and prevent homelessness among families using a focused ethnographic study guided by the principles of participatory action research (PAR). The sample includes 36 family members residing at a family shelter who participated in focus groups over two years (between April 2016 and December 2017). Most of the participants were single-parent women.
RESULTS
The analysis yielded five major themes including, life challenges, lack of understanding of the system, existing power differentials, escaping from hardship, and a theme of proposed solutions for reducing family homelessness in the community.
CONCLUSION
The findings illustrated the complex nature of family homelessness in Ontario; that the interaction of multiple systems can put families at risk of homelessness. Findings from this study underscore the need for urgent housing protocols aimed at educating homeless families on how to navigate and understand the system, enhance their conflict resolution skills, and develop strategies beyond relocation to help them to cope with difficulties with housing.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35351039
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13028-9
pii: 10.1186/s12889-022-13028-9
pmc: PMC8966253
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
614Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
Références
Glob Health Action. 2017 Aug;10(sup4):1346038
pubmed: 28856974
BMC Public Health. 2011 Aug 12;11:643
pubmed: 21838894
CMAJ. 2020 Mar 9;192(10):E240-E254
pubmed: 32152052
Int J Ment Health Syst. 2020 Mar 13;14:18
pubmed: 32190106
Nurse Res. 2013 Mar;20(4):36-43
pubmed: 23520711
Am J Public Health. 2013 Dec;103 Suppl 2:e1-10
pubmed: 24148055
Int J Ment Health Nurs. 2021 Apr;30(2):553-562
pubmed: 33231350
Am J Orthopsychiatry. 2014;84(1):95-109
pubmed: 24826832
Infant Ment Health J. 2012 Jan;33(1):1-9
pubmed: 22685362