The elusiveness of home and ontological security among homeless youth

Abstract

The concept of home is connected to various psychosocial aspects of ontological security, encompassing safety, control, privacy, continuity, and permanence. However, for youth who have experienced homelessness, these positive attributes of home and the conditions necessary for ontological security remain elusive. This qualitative study utilised biographical interview data to explore the experiences of 26 young adults who experienced homelessness at least once during their time in high school. Using the concepts of ontological security, the meaning of home, and a social harm perspective, this research examined how the experience of homelessness affects the well-being of youth and builds upon the literature examining health, home, and well-being through the lens of social harm. For the participants in this study, the conditions essential for ontological security were unmet for prolonged periods during adolescence. Instead, they described frequently moving among temporary housing and households that sometimes felt unwelcoming and uncomfortable. The findings suggest that solutions to homelessness would require a fundamental shift in the U.S.’s political and economic systems, which, despite increasing inequality and limited housing options for vulnerable populations, may be challenging to achieve.