Exiting Homelessness, The Perspectives of Those Experiencing Housing Instability

Background: For nearly thirty years homelessness has increased steadily in major cities around the globe, including Alberta Canada. Strategies adopted by the Canadian and Alberta governments to manage homelessness has yielded limited success. Signaling that Individuals experiencing homelessness are yet to be included adequately in search of solutions. Comprehension of homelessness phenomenon remains a challenge, as well as ending homelessness. The purpose of this phenomenological investigation study was to understand homelessness phenomenon from the experience of people who do not have homes and are experiencing housing instability. Methods: A total of 15 respondents were recruited. We performed in-depth, open-ended interviews for data collection. Following hermeneutic and phenomenological principles, interview data was retrieved, transcribed, summarized, described, and explained. Results: The prominent themes indicated a need to make housing, and utilities affordable, and rent and mortgage qualification criteria easy; a need for revising of credit bureau and criminal record policies; people at the shelters entitled to welfare or other benefits requires grace period of at least three months before withholding payment of their entitlements; vital skills training is necessary to secure a job, for financial management, for positive behaviour, and supervised spending. Shelter awareness is necessary, and making government support services efficient, and non-discriminatory. End all discriminations and provide 40hrs/week regular full-time jobs. Conclusion: The homeless, public, public health, and homeless service providers would benefit from the findings. Findings could help to stir homelessness reduction strategies to keep people out of the street in Canada.