Occupational transition in the process of becoming housed following chronic homelessness: La transition occupationnelle liée au processus d'obtention d'un logement à la suite d'une itinérance chronique.

BACKGROUND

Studying the occupations of formerly homeless persons as they transition to becoming housed following long-term homelessness has the potential to offer a meaningful contribution to the ongoing dialogue on homelessness.

PURPOSE: Occupational transition was explored with a sample of persons with a history of chronic homelessness to contribute an occupational perspective to current scholarship on homelessness and to inform the practice of occupational therapists who support this population.

METHOD: Interpretive phenomenology guided the study. Eleven persons with a history of chronic homelessness were engaged in semistructured interviews 3 to 24 months after becoming housed.

FINDINGS: Six themes emerged that highlighted occupation as a means of promoting social and psychological integration, and the meaning and experience of occupational transition.

IMPLICATIONS: A more comprehensive support strategy acknowledging the occupations of chronically homeless persons is essential to incorporate into future research and practice aimed at promoting community inclusion and housing retention.