There is a growing body of research on homelessness, and collective action amongst the homeless. Tent cities are examples of self-help housing efforts. Tent cities are erected as shelter and make poverty visible in public domains. The form and interaction of tent cities are context specific. The perceptions of tent city participants in Canada remain partly understood by researchers. The aim of this thesis is to investigate activism and collective mobilization in one tent city – Cridge Park tent city - from the perspectives of tent city participants. I questioned what the experiences in the tent city meant for participants, their perceived public reaction to the tent city, and whether the research participants continue their activism beyond Cridge Park tent city. I present an empirically-grounded case study to uncover four participants’ perspectives of their involvement. I used qualitative research methods to access the perspectives of tent cities from four Cridge Park tent city participants. Cridge Park participants spoke of Cridge Park tent city as a “community” where they enjoyed freedom to negotiate their individual identity and where they found security and safety, which they lost when the tent city was closed. Including houseless persons in the decision-making process for services and policies that directly impact them is required to better meet their needs. Comparative research could investigate contextual differences and influences on the success or failure of tent cities as forms of social movement activities. / Graduate

Youth homelessness is a pressing problem in contemporary British urban politics. The emergence of youth homelessness, in the context of wider homelessness, has been conditioned by economic, political and social changes in British society. Young people have been particular casualties of these social changes. Whilst homelessness has been the consequence of larger structural changes, the character of youth homelessness has very much been determined by the homeless themselves. The relationship between human agency and structural constraint, and the implicit power relations therein are explored by recourse to Structurationist theory. In this context, a theoretically composite approach is posited drawing on livelihood analysis and Michel de Certeau's "Science of Singularity". Livelihood analysis is developed by recourse to Grounded theory to produce an ethnography of homeless survival tactics rooted in the experience of young homeless people living on the streets in London's West End. The emergent ethnography is subjected to the insights of Michel de Certeau, who provides a means for understanding the relationship between critical action and social constraint. Recognising the implicit social criticism of homeless life, this approach posits a regime of commodities, skills and sources (the resource regime) as a basis for homeless critical livelihood. This critical livelihood contextualised by structural constraint, and explored by creative endeavour, is used by the homeless to make their lives and to forge identity. This approach is implicitly spatial because the homeless draw on urban spaces to forge livelihood, and their trajectories in the city both contribute to social reproduction and are central to the criticisms they make. Correspondingly, homeless identity, forged through the processes of critical livelihood, is at times contradictory. Homeless identity emerges as one that is purposive and critical, whilst at the same time being dependent on the very circumstances of marginality for its substance and character.

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the role of the Good Shepherd, a Catholic charitable organization, in the lives of those involved in it. Data collection methods consisted of semi-structured interviews and a limited amount of participant observation. A reflexive journal was also kept to help challenge and reflect on the assumptions I had as a researcher throughout the study. Three major themes emerged from data analysis: (1) experiencing complex interactions within Good Shepherd, (2) fostering a culture of support, and (3) acknowledging that everyone has a different life story. The first theme described participants’ experiences in terms of associating with other individuals involved with the organization. The second theme demonstrates the different types of support that are felt by all associated with the Good Shepherd. The third theme illustrates how those involved in the Good Shepherd learn to appreciate each individual and to value everyone’s life story. As a result of this phenomenological study, I challenged my original assumptions of those facing homelessness and developed a new understanding based on my experiences with all participants at the organization. Specifically, my beliefs changed in three ways. I learned that the problem of homelessness is a complicated phenomenon that involves more than the lack of a house, but a complex array of factors. I learned that those facing homelessness still value their dignity and constantly fight to maintain their sense of self-worth. And finally, I learned that those who are facing homelessness have not given up on life. Four recommendations for future research emerged from this study: (1) studies comparing the perspectives of staff and clients associated with charitable organizations should be examined in order to identify the discrepancies between the two, (2) the benefits of leisure stress coping should continue to be tested to see its effects on those who are faced with homelessness, (3) studies comparing the differences between leisure usage and leisure opportunities for those facing homelessness should be addressed, and finally, (4) the specific benefits of having a sense of belonging to a community for those who are homeless should be identified.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 320-327). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / xix, 327 leaves, bound ill., map 29 cm

Thesis (M.S. in Community Research and Action)--Vanderbilt University, Aug. 2008. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-162).

Zugl.: Berlin, Humboldt-Universiẗat, Diss., 2005.

Thesis (M. Div. with Concentration : Urban Ministry)--Emmanuel School of Religion, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 56).

Thesis (M.A.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "August 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-105). Also available online.

Thesis (M. Hous. M.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 81-84).