Home is where the heart is : trauma-informed practices, fraught transitions to housing, and radical hope among those fighting homelessness in Boston

Abstract

Through the experiences and perspectives of clients, direct service workers, and policymakers, I endeavor to tell the story of transitioning from chronic homelessness to stable housing, identifying this as a uniquely unstable period and documenting a need for increased attention on both the trauma of homelessness and the tumultuous transition to housing, in an effort to support clients towards stable housing, and ideally a point of thriving. The thesis makes five key points. First, homelessness is a manifestation of structural inequities, not individual deficiencies, and, as such, is best addressed through policy. Like an iceberg, the causes of homelessness exist beneath the surface, and include housing market inefficiencies, wage stagnation, a diminished social safety net, social reproduction theory, racism, and the financial and power inequalities of capitalism. Second, homelessness is traumatic, including five categories of trauma: trauma wrought by power relationships, physical trauma, emotional trauma, trauma wrought by other systems, and trauma wrought by instability. More psychological research may improve efforts to prevent and respond to trauma within services targeting the homeless and newly housed. Third, housing is the solution to homelessness, and yet, fourth, the transition to housing is traumatic in its own rite. Viewing housing purely as a solution neglects the trauma of homelessness and turmoil of this transition, and may accordingly fuel cyclical homelessness. This transition is complicated by three challenges: change and new responsibilities, loss of programmatic supports, and loss of social supports. Questions remain as to whether and how to support the integration of the newly housed into their new communities. Finally, as individuals transition from chronic homelessness to stable housing, thriving, an evolving concept, is tentatively defined here as engaging in reciprocal volunteer work, deepening bonds with family, and lending leadership and expertise towards efforts to fight homelessness. With admiration and hope, I note the innovative programs already in place in Boston and humbly suggest considerations for next steps. People who have been homeless have demonstrated resilience in the face of deep tragedy. When stably housed, society can benefit even more from their contributions.