A Phenomenology Study of the Lived Experience of Homeless Persons

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of homeless persons. METHODS: A phenomenological methodology was used for the study. Participants were people enrolled in the Center for homeless persons in Kyunggi Province and eligible for the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with nine participants between October 13 and November 16, 2016. Data analysis was conducted using Colaizzi's method. RESULTS: Five themes and twenty meanings were formulated for experiences of homeless persons. The five themes were 'Abandoning their life', 'Being familiar with a free homeless life', 'Being isolated from the world', Being impoverished', 'Desire to break away from the life of homelessness'. CONCLUSION: The study results suggest the need for a holistic understanding of the essential structure of the lived experiences of homeless persons. Mental health professionals need to understand the homelessness experiences from the client view and to develop programs that can help homeless persons reintegrate into the community.