“Taking a chance and striking out”: an exploration of homelessness, housing pathways, and ‘self-sabotage’

Abstract

Homelessness remains a prevalent social issue in Canada, though limited research has sought to explore the process of transitioning from homelessness to housing. Exits from homelessness are rarely straightforward and are obstructed by the prevailing discourses that entrap identity within homelessness, making it difficult to establish a new sense of self after obtaining housing. The phenomenon of self-sabotage offers insights into the conscious and unconscious forces that drive individuals to engage in behaviors that may obstruct their chances at achieving desired goals. This thesis provides insights from individuals with lived experience of homelessness regarding the challenges they feel impede housing stability. Findings suggest that discourses of homelessness contribute to identity and result in continued engagement in the expected behaviors of this social category, jeopardizing housing stability.