Public transit and the needs of people experiencing homelessness: a directed content analysis guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

Abstract

ABSTRACT Transportation has rarely been a variable of interest in studying homelessness, yet its role in the lives of people experiencing homelessness (PEH), especially those in U.S. urban areas, is critical. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found transit agencies often frame riders experiencing homelessness as a problem to solve. Examining the experiences of PEH riders and appreciating the centrality of transit vehicles, properties, and personnel in the lives of PEH are critical to craft ethical solutions. Research question: How does the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system meet the daily needs of individuals experiencing homelessness? We utilized a descriptive phenomenological research design to frame the interview questions and then used Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in service of directed content analysis. We interviewed 42 PEH in Dallas, Texas, who also used the local transit system. Themes included “Transit Meets Basic Needs of Rest and Homeostasis,” “Ambivalent Safety on Transit,” “Transit and Recognition Needs,” and “Transit as a Metaphor for Being Needs.” Findings are discussed in light of previous literature and the potential for critical intervention.