Children's perceptions of homelessness.

The purpose of this study was to describe what it is like to be homeless from the school-age child's unique perspective. A convenience sample of 14 school-aged children currently living in a shelter was interviewed about their experiences with homelessness. The children described their experiences openly with vivid details, and five themes were identified in the data: (a) I am not homeless, (b) I like living in a shelter sometimes, (c) living in a shelter is hard, (d) stop the violence, and (e) I need approval. Data are presented to support how the themes were labeled. Understanding the perspectives of children who live in shelters can be an important aspect in providing care to them and their families when they are treated by nurses in hospitals, schools, and communities.