An article published in Housing Studies, “The importance of stable housing in social capital development and utilisation: How homelessness undermines reciprocity, recognition, and autonomy,” reveals how people experiencing homelessness can be deprived of the ability to maintain and utilize social capital in ways that improve their housing security. In addition to finding that stable housing is a precondition for successfully utilizing social capital, the authors show that without stable housing, people rely on available social capital to meet urgent needs but over time may be unable to leverage and maintain the relationships from which social capital is derived.
The study’s findings were derived from semi-structured phone interviews with 30 adults ages 23 to 69 who were experiencing homelessness in London, UK. Interview questions focused on the interviewees’ personal experiences with housing, the influence of their housing situation on their social relationships, and social support sources and needs.
Social capital – or the resources and support derived from social relationships and networks – depends on three relationship conditions: reciprocity of support, recognition as equals, and autonomy. Homelessness can impact individuals’ ability to reciprocate material and emotional support, which can result in difficulties maintaining social relationships. Many participants described the importance of their social relationships in meeting their basic needs, such as housing, food, and financial support. However, participants reported frustrations around their inability to reciprocate or return material and emotional support. One participant shared how a lack of resources, specifically transportation, made it impossible to have the face-to-face contact required to maintain some of her relationships. Other participants shared how the lack of stable housing caused loneliness, isolation, and withdrawal from relationships to avoid sharing the realities of their situation and putting others “through that kind of pain.” At the same time, participants discussed how people in their social network would avoid sharing positive news or items, such as Christmas photos, due to guilt about participants’ adverse situations.
For people experiencing homelessness, the fear of or the actual experience of being seen as less-than-equal social actors impedes the utility of social networks in improving housing situations. One participant shared how service organizations treat people experiencing homelessness like children, and often as “naughty children,” which creates a co-dependence that “can be taken away as a punishment.” Other participants shared experiences of being seen as less-than equal in close relationships, while still others shared how they wanted to keep their experiences of homelessness secret because they were embarrassed, feared being bullied or laughed at, or felt guilty or burdensome for needing support. Even for participants who believed that their family or friends would be supportive or helpful, homelessness caused feelings of unworthiness and reluctance to seek support.
Further, people experiencing homelessness have reduced autonomy. Participants living temporarily with family or friends shared how they lacked a say over bed-time routines, meals, and social activities in the home but were reluctant to voice concerns due to a lack of alternative housing options. Others shared how limited social networks and the resulting lack of autonomy over whom to seek support from led to overutilizing and fatiguing the same support systems, leaving them with even fewer supportive relationships over time. One participant shared that “there’s a limit to how much people will let you crash on their sofa.”
The authors conclude that reliance on social capital is not an effective means of leaving homelessness. Rather stable housing is a precondition for successfully utilizing social capital. They argue that their findings support a Housing First approach to homelessness, which is based on the principle that stable, affordable housing is a precondition to addressing other needs.
Read the report at: https://bit.ly/4da1v7u