Down But Not Out: The Role of Narrative Identity and Resources in Transitioning Through Homelessness

Abstract

This manuscript describes a qualitative evaluation of a particular non-profit organization that helps veterans experiencing homelessness. We propose that individuals experiencing homelessness need to modify their narrative identity (through restorying), and that four resource domains (economic, material, interpersonal and individual) are needed to help individuals experiencing homelessness to re-identify themselves. To this end, the studied nonprofit organization provides a good model for providing individualized services that cover the full range of required resources as well as the opportunity to modify individual narratives.