"Utlämnade i deras händer"
- En kvalitativ studie om hemmets betydelse för personer i hemlöshet
HomelessnessHomeThe meaning of homeSelf-determinationIndependenceIdentityEmpowermentHemlöshetHemHemmets betydelseSjälvbestämmandeSjälvständighetIdentitetEmpowerment
The aim of this study has been to achieve an increased understanding of the meaning of home for people in homelessness. The study is based on texts written by people in homelessness and a qualitative content analysis has been used to process the material. The result has been analysed with an inductive approach, using parts of the analysis method grounded theory. Three aspects of the meaning of home was identified in the texts; control, self-determination and independence. The lack of a home means a major limitation concerning these aspects, according to the texts. An interpretation of the material based on the notion of identity shows that a large part of the meaning of home for some people in homelessness is to protect, maintain and defend the identity. This creates a deeper understanding of those cases where housing solutions that doesn´t involve control, self-determination and independence, are not successful. The concept of empowerment is also used in the analysis, since the content of empowerment can be linked with the three aspects of the meaning of home that the result indicates. The study justifies an increased level of empowerment for people in homelessness.