Schmitt, Mark A. (2022) How a community can help overcome homelessness: Exploring the lived experience of formerly homeless shelter users. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Homelessness within Australia is a persistent social issue, a burden upon both the community and the individual. The cause and course of homelessness is complex and the focus of considerable research. However, within this complex interplay of personal and socioeconomic factors lies the individual psychological journey. Research that places the person experiencing homelessness at the centre of its endeavour, and acknowledges the importance of agency and motivation, can offer meaningful testimony towards developing better services that focus on the psychological needs of those experiencing hardship. Through inductive thematic analysis, this qualitative study aimed to explore the lived experience of formerly homeless individuals and the factors that influenced their psychological needs and behaviours to exit homelessness. Three main themes emerged from the data; The Kindness of Strangers – the importance of altruistic and authentic relationships to create a psychosocial safe environment; Inner Journey – the psychological changes towards increased self-efficacy; and Distressing Street Life – the negative self-perception that had previously perpetuated participant homelessness. Underpinning homelessness exit were relationships that displayed unconditional positive regard, facilitating a shift to intrinsic motivation through the satisfaction of the three psychological needs of competency, relatedness and autonomy. The characteristics of the community providing service is integral to successful formation of these relationships. Cohesive group values of humility, equality, sharing and inclusiveness, and non-judgmental attitudes are key components of any organisation looking to promote positive motivational change through increases in agency and social capital.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Lorelle Burton; Michael Ireland |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2025 03:02 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2025 03:02 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Self-determination; homelessness; psychological needs |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52736 |
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