Street homelessness – on the other side of the mirror

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problems of street homelessness and a different perception of this phenomenon in the environment of "non-homeless people" and homeless people. The author presents a peculiar ritual of transition from "normal" life into a crisis of homelessness. The study involved 22 homeless people and was conducted in the form of free interview and graphic mapping of the "world map" modeled on the Maslow's pyramid of needs with particular emphasis on basic needs. The implementation of these needs as well as higher-order needs is carried out in an alternative way, different from the ones adopted in social norms.