Date of Award

Spring 2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Communication & Theatre Arts

Program/Concentration

Lifespan and Digital Communication

Committee Director

Gary Beck

Committee Member

Thomas Socha

Committee Member

Danielle Jackson

Abstract

On any given night in 2023, approximately 650,000 people were experiencing homelessness (HUD, 2023). With the highest rate of homelessness since national reporting began in 2007 and double the rate of chronic homelessness since 2016, it could be inferred that the resources are not effectively mitigating the problem (HUD, 2023). To attempt to understand this complex issue, this thesis initially reviewed theories on societal structures, personal connections, social support, and gaps in support. In person interviews of 14 people living with homelessness explored perceptions of support, social challenges, involvement in the community and lack of support. Following each interview, a digital survey explored support gaps between desired and received support.

Thematic analysis of interview data revealed that participants perceived support from distal, action-facilitating and peer support sources. The social challenges of experiencing homelessness were the unpredictability of others, emotional intensity of homelessness, and stigmatization. Participants were involved in the community by utilizing local resources, supporting the local economy and through their generational ties. Finally, participants reported lacking a compassionate community, aging and vulnerability care, companionship, beyond basic needs, recovery, and stability. The limited quantitative data complimented these qualitative findings by confirming support gaps across all forms of support, most notably tangible and emotional support.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/6rej-3649

ISBN

9798382773230

ORCID

0000-0001-8309-7319

Download

Share

COinS