Homelessness and critical realism: a search for richer explanations

Abstract

Homelessness is an increasingly prevalent social problem with devastating consequences. Yet homelessness causality literature is characterised by confusion due to a diversity of homelessness definitions, research approaches, understandings of causality and welfare state contexts. To bring some clarity, homelessness literature is first categorised as having risk factor, pathways, subjective or theoretically orientated research approaches—each of which is evaluated for its capacity to explain homelessness. Second, the philosophy of critical realism is presented as a meta-theoretical approach with potential to strengthen the explanatory power of homelessness research. This paper offers both a systematic summary of the core principles of critical realism and suggests seven practical implications of using its epistemological and ontological assumptions to guide better homelessness research.

Keywords:

• Causality
• c
• ritical realism
• homelessness
• social theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Catherine Hastings

Catherine Hastings is a PhD student at Macquarie University, Sydney and Applied Social Research and Evaluation Consultant. Her interests include social policy, evaluation, social justice, housing and critical realism.