Understanding How Five Women Make Meaning of Their Temporal Environment While Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how five women perceived time while experiencing homelessness. Using in-depth interviewing, three themes emerged; 1: Homelessness is a complex, chaotic experience that changes within blended moments of time as I move from place to place. 2: Outside events influenced how I perceived and structured my time while homeless. 3: Now that I have a permanent place to live, I am taking the time to participate in new occupations and learn how to live a better life. These findings support a more nuanced understanding of time to inform work with people experiencing homelessness.

Keywords:

• homelessness
• temporal environment
• lived experiences

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Tamar Stern, Antonella Rubio, and Remy Savy for their editorial assistance throughout this process.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.