Homelessness and Identity

In describing homelessness, both service providers and community members provided varied responses. However, the descriptions offered by service providers were more similar to each other than to the definitions given by community members, and vice versa. The definitions/descriptions given by service providers often described homelessness in terms of a physical residence and seldom deviated from the government definitions given at the beginning of this document. But community members, characterized by the service providers' definitions as homeless, did not identify with that term. When community members were asked if they were homeless, many would say, "no." To them, "home" was more of an attachment to a location rather than a physical residence. In truth, from the context of community member responses, community members perceived that service providers' definitions of "homelessness" are actually definitions of "houselessness." Community members may identify themselves differently in an attempt to avoid social stigma.

Although no term equivalent to "homeless" was identified among community members, information was gathered on different groups within this nameless population, and this information illuminates another dynamic between service providers and community members.

Comparing Insider and Outsider Perspectives

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Community Member Groups & Service Utilization