Date Presented 03/23/24
This study examined the lived experience of mothers experiencing homelessness and explored the impacts of COVID-19 on meaningful roles and routines. This poster will highlight opportunities for OTs through themes identified in this study.
Primary Author and Speaker: Kaitlyn Jensen
Additional Authors and Speakers: Tara Roland, John V. Rider
PURPOSE: More than 500,000 people experience homelessness in the United States (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2022). Recent literature indicates the loss of community access significantly disrupts occupational participation of families experiencing homelessness (Parry et al., 2021), likely exacerbating the occupational injustices already faced by this population. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand the meaning of roles and routines for homeless families in Southern Nevada and the impact of COVID-19.
DESIGN: This phenomenological study used a series of interviews with participants recruited at a local resource fair and two women’s shelters. Participants were required to be over 18, communicate in English, and be experiencing homelessness for at least one month.
METHOD: Participants completed a 30-minute semi-structured interview discussing their lived experience as a parent experiencing homelessness after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed following Braun & Clarke’s thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
RESULTS: A total of 9 mothers participated in this study. Four themes were derived from the data: sources of motivation and perseverance, sources of additional mental anguish, added impacts of COVID-19, and future directions to meet population needs. The role of motherhood emerged as a meaningful identity related to all four themes.
CONCLUSION: The experience of homelessness and the lasting effects of COVID-19 presents unique challenges for families experiencing homelessness. The impacts of homelessness and COVID-19 on access to resources and occupational engagement demonstrate opportunities for OTs to provide meaningful services to this community.
IMPACT STATEMENT: OT practitioners can address barriers and current needs of families experiencing homelessness to promote increased occupational participation and role competence for parents.
References
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Parry, Y., Ankers, M., Sivertsen, N., & Willis, E. (2021). Where is the community during COVID-19? The experiences of families living in housing insecurity. Health and Social Care in the Community, 00, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13645
Rider, J., Selim, J., & Garcia, A. (2021). Health and disability among persons experiencing homelessness. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health 38,(1), 49–66. https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2021.1975010
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (2022). The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress: Part 1. Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
