[The lived meaning of becoming homeless and subsequently obtaining housing: A qualitative study of individuals with long-term experiences of homelessness].

Objective　Homelessness has a profound impact on health and is often framed as an extreme form of social exclusion. In Japan, policies and support programs have promoted stable housing as a pathway to independence, contributing to a marked decline in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness. Nevertheless, the homeless population has aged, and homelessness has become prolonged; among this population, the avoidance of support services and return to street homelessness remain notable challenges. While previous studies have emphasized structural factors and formal outcomes, such as facility entry, reasons for discharge, and housing acquisition, the subjective experiences of individuals transitioning into housing remain underexplored. The objective of this study was to qualitatively describe how individuals experiencing long-term homelessness perceive homelessness and obtaining housing within the context of their relationships with others in society.Methods　This was an exploratory qualitative study. Participants were recruited through a support organization in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The study included four men who had experienced homelessness for more than 10 years and had been living in apartments for at least 1 year at the time of the interviews. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between July and August 2023. The interview transcripts were analyzed using a phenomenological approach, focusing on lived experiences, context, and meaning through an iterative interpretive process.Results　Three major themes were identified. "Becoming 'no one'" described experiences of disengaging from social roles and expectations tied to family, work, and community, resulting in the loss of a socially defined sense of self. "Living as oneself while being accepted " referred to practices through which participants sustained their lives during homelessness by finding specific spaces or relationships in which they were not judged based on their social status or roles. "Being required to become 'someone' again" captured the experience of obtaining housing, in which institutional rules, social expectations, and relationships re-entered daily life, destabilizing previously viable ways of living.Conclusions　Experiencing homelessness and obtaining housing were not defined by the presence or absence of housing; rather, they involved relationships with others and shifts in those relationships. In providing support, it is necessary to recognize that relational changes accompanying housing acquisition may create new difficulties. Support should therefore be attentive to individual experiences, accompanying individuals in accepting such changes and building new relationships. This study suggests directions for homelessness support that extend beyond the provision of physical housing.