Research Library

Refugee pathways out of homelessness in urban Alberta, Canada: implications for social justice-oriented counselling

Abstract

Although refugees flee their homelands in search of a better life, they often face continued displacement and homelessness after arrival in their host countries. This constructivist grounded theory study investigated pathways out of homelessness through interviews with a mixed sample of 19 adult refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Syria who had experienced short or long-term homelessness after their arrival in Canada and who were subsequently adequately settled for at least 6 months. Data analysis yielded a theoretical framework consisting of four interrelated pathways for exiting the cycle of homelessness: (a) drawing on religiosity to replace the lack of one’s own physical dwelling with a virtual spiritual shelter, promoting resilience in dealing with housing obstacles; (b) creative problem-solving to move up the income ladder to make housing affordable; (c) crying out for help and stumbling on a housing advocate; and (d) engaging in self-advocacy. Social justice-oriented counselling with refugees can facilitate satisfaction of their basic needs after migration in order to realize their fundamental human right to access safe shelter.