A retrospective account of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness in the Maltese context

Abstract

This research explored the lived experiences of people who went through one or more periods of homelessness in Malta. Having identified a gap in the local available literature, the research question formulated for the purpose of this study was: “What are the lived experiences of individuals who have experienced homelessness in Malta?” Through carrying out this study, I sought to achieve better insight into the meanings that people ascribe to their experiences of homelessness, with the aim of raising more awareness on homelessness and giving homeless people a voice. Five participants were recruited for this study and were interviewed about their experiences of homelessness. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, from which three clusters of themes emerged. Findings indicated that participants wound up homeless due to factors such as dysfunctional family relationships, mental health problems, addiction and eviction. Homelessness brought about a lot of instability and a decline in participants’ mental wellbeing, which at times resulted in dysfunctional methods of coping. The findings also showed that participants had several unmet needs while homeless, particularly in relation to basic necessities, safety and relationships, amongst others. Upon fulfilling these needs, participants worked on personal goals to meet their self-actualisation needs. Other salient findings included the participants’ experiences of support while they were homeless. Participants revealed the strengths acquired from their experiences, however their fear of reexperiencing homelessness was evident. As a result of their experiences, participants offered some recommendations for policy and services, which were in line with the recommendations proposed by this research. These included the regulation of rental market prices, refurbishing derelict houses and increasing awareness about homelessness. The limitations of the research and the implications for counselling were also addressed.