Providers' Definitions of Homelessness

Service providers defined homelessness in different ways, but there was general agreement that not having a permanent residence fit in that category. One provider who was formerly in this situation described her predicament, "Homelessness is when you don't have a roof over your head and you don't know what's gonna happen from day to day. You know, you're tryin' to get a job. You're tryin' to get a place." Other providers described homelessness as being more than just living on the street, such as "being in a precarious situation and living on the edge" and "people who transit from one place to another" or "crash at other people's houses." Many providers mentioned that certain people would not seek services at available shelters for various reasons, and they felt that people may even "choose" to be homeless and adopt it as a kind of lifestyle or cultural identity.

Analysis of Service Provider Interviews

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Durham's History with Homelessness