‘Trials and tribulations’: the ambivalent influence of temporary accommodation on mental health recovery in chronically homeless adults

Karadzhov, D. (2023) ‘Trials and tribulations’: the ambivalent influence of temporary accommodation on mental health recovery in chronically homeless adults. Qualitative Health Research, 33(3), pp. 176-190. (doi: 10.1177/10497323221147127) (PMID:36644943) (PMCID:PMC9932610)

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Abstract

Relatively few studies have explicitly examined whether and how shelter-type, temporary or emergency accommodation shapes homeless clients’ personal (mental health) recovery. A transatlantic phenomenological qualitative study was conducted to examine the influence of those services on personal recovery. Eighteen chronically homeless adults with a history of serious mental illness were recruited from several temporary accommodation services in New York City (NYC), U.S., and Glasgow, Scotland. Participants completed repeat in-depth interviews and a novel one-week multimedia mobile phone diary. The interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) produced three overarching group experiential themes: ‘everything was just starting to fall into place’; ‘caught in a trap’; and ‘trials and tribulations’. Collectively, the findings underscore the duality of influence of temporary accommodation on recovery. Those ambiguous spaces confronted participants with existential uncertainty, volatility and chronic boredom, but also proffered opportunities for envisioning and enacting recovery. Embarking on recovery while residing in temporary accommodation is possible, even for those enduring chronic life adversity. However, it is contingent upon enabling socio-material, affective and relational resources. Implications are discussed for theorising recovery as a contextually embedded, relational phenomenon, and for providing recovery-oriented support across the housing continuum.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This study was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant 690954.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Karadzhov, Dr Dimitar
Authors: Karadzhov, D.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Qualitative Health Research
Publisher:SAGE Publications
ISSN:1049-7323
ISSN (Online):1552-7557
Published Online:16 January 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2023 The Author
First Published:First published in Qualitative Health Research 33(3): 176-190
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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