A qualitative study of a maintenance support program for women at risk of homelessness: part 3: societal factors

Abstract

Homelessness is a collective societal problem, and people who are homeless are often treated as society's underclass, stigmatised and excluded. These issues are often exacerbated among homeless people from countries other than the one in which they are currently living. In this article we report findings from a qualitative study of homeless women, case managers and health professionals from a Maintenance Support Program and their personal accounts and insights into their experiences of the program. This article presents the third and last sub-theme "societal factors" of the study where the overarching theme was "A life-changing event: I have the power to change." This sub-theme is supported by three categories including gender, race and ethnicity, and environment. The findings highlight the impact of the societal factors that linked women's experiences with domestic violence and abuse. Further cultural views regarding the role of women in society hinder their capacity to recognise that they should not be treated differently and that they should be supported to access health and social services to improve their lives in a safe and supportive environment.