Temporalities and Service Experience of Homeless Adults

Juliet Holzknecht
AHE 588: Portfolio
Western Washington University

Introduction
Homelessness has been a continuous issue throughout the United states. In
Washington, homeless population point in time counts found 19,418 in 2015
(Annual Point In Time Count, n.d.). In January 2016, Mayor Kelli Linville led the
charge to request the Governor to declare a state of emergency in Washington in
regards to lack of housing and homelessness (Johnson, n.d.). It is also well known
that homeless individuals do not have a strong voice within their communities due
to lack of social, economic and political power, and therefore labelled as a
vulnerable population (Gombert, Douglas, McArdle, & Carlisle, 2016). While very
little academic research has been done with this population, it is recognized that
additional understanding is needed to address the seriousness of this situation.
This research will work directly with homeless persons in Bellingham, Washington to
explore their daily experience, the temporalities placed on homeless individuals,
and the needs of these individuals in order to reach a stable, safe, sheltered place in
their life. Using an action research approach, this research will provide insight into
the needs and service experience of homeless populations in Bellingham and
suggest recommendations for improving policy and support services. Additionally,
this research will add to the current research on temporalities of homeless in the
United States (Cooper, 2015).
This research will try to answer the question What temporal constraints are
placed on homeless individuals in Bellingham, Washington and how does this affect
the ability to plan for the future?
Literature Review
In 2014, an action research study was conducted in Chicago by Cooper to
understand the temporal constraints placed on homeless individuals and their
experience working with the service organizations available to provide them with
daily necessities (Cooper, 2015). The research found that in a large, urban setting
such as Chicago, these service providers had several time constraints that either
left homeless individuals without shelter for certain hours of the day, or very rushed
between several services during other hours. Desjarlais argues that for most shelter
residents, daily life was largely organized around a mode of existence he terms
struggling along, which entailed both a hollowing out of meaning in ones
activities and a diminished sense of linear time (1994). Additionally, studies of
other marginalized groups subject to institutional temporalities (such as inmates in
asylums, or poor people forced to wait for state services) show how appropriating
peoples time can serve as a means of shaping subjectivity and reproducing power
relations and social inequalities (Cooper, 2015). Understanding the daily
experience of individuals navigating the homeless services is essential in order to
explore the best ways to support these individuals into more permanent housing
and sustainable, stable living options.
Action research has been used for many research projects relating to
homeless populations to date (Cooper, 2015; Ryan, Jeffreys, Ryczek, & Diaz, 2014;
Washington, Moxley, Garriott, & Crystal, 2009). Action research is a form of
research focusing on how inquiry into practitioner action enhances awareness and
understanding of social issues and the consequences of intervention(Washington et
al., 2009, p. 143). This type of research was intentionally chosen as it recognizes
vulnerability of the homeless population and how the research structure considers

the importance of those who are not dominant and who typically are omitted from
the conception, design, implementation, and utilization of inquiry (Washington et
al., 2009, p. 144).

Methodology
The proposed study would be a qualitative action research study of
individuals who are homeless or in transitional housing in Bellingham, Washington.
This inductive research will survey participants experience to develop a deeper
understanding of the daily experience of homeless individuals in this region.
For the purpose of this research, participants will be defined as adults (age 18
or older) that are currently or have been living on the street or in transitional
housing in the last six months. Participants will be purposively selected through
homeless shelter services and housing outreach services to ensure a broad sample
of demographics and ability to sustain contact with the participants throughout the
study. Once selected, participants will meet with the interviewers to read the
consent form and answer any questions the participants may have about the study.
The researchers acknowledge that the population being interviewed is considered a
vulnerable population and will consider Gombert, Douglas, McArdle & Carlisle (2016)
throughout the interview process. This includes the consideration that
In human studies, an ethically sound basis is considered to ensure that the
participants take part in the study by choice, have read and understood an
information sheet detailing the rationale and practicalities of the study, agree to the
potential risks and are aware of any future consequences their participation may
entail. Apart from the formal requirements for conducting research studies,
upholding relevant values and human rights of every individual participant
throughout the research process is essential (Gombert et al., 2016, p. 584).
Because of this, every effort will be made to include participants in the
research process. At each interview, participants will be reminded that their
involvement is voluntary and they can remove themselves at any time with no
impact to their housing services or other services provided to them.
Participants will be interviewed twice over the course of the study by two
interviewers to reduce interview bias (Gay, Mills, & Airasian, 2008). The first
interview will be approximately one hour in length, and will be recorded.
Interviewers will complete the first round of interviews with all participants, and
then transcribe the interviews. As data is collected, categories will be defined,
coded and validated with multiple interviews. This is known as the constant
comparative method of data analysis (Kolb, n.d.). As defined by the constant
comparative method, the researchers will move through four stages of analysis: (1)
comparing incidents applicable to each category, (2) integrating categories and
their properties, (3) delimiting the theory, and (4) writing the theory (Kolb, n.d.). A
second round of thirty minute interviews will occur after the initial coding process
has occurred to request more detailed insight, and check possible theories with
participants. The second round of interviews will also be transcribed and coded to
finalize any theories or important considerations for the final report.
Participants safety, reputation and ease of participation will be considered at
every point in the study. Interviewers will request that participants decide the best
location for interviews to occur to ensure a safe and comfortable space for the
participants. This will also ensure that participants are able to get to the interview

location. All interviews will remain confidential and participants names will not be
shared once the interviews have been transcribed. If published or presented, the
research study will remove the exact town in which the study was conducted and
instead provide a general region of study, while also ensuring that all identifiable
features within the study are generalized to reduce the chance of participant
identification. Participants will be provided a copy of the research findings prior to
any publishing. If participants are unable to read, an opportunity to hear the
findings will be presented.
The purpose of this study is to parallel the work of Cooper (2015), and see the
comparisons or differences within a smaller suburban town in the Pacific Northwest.
Through this work, the researcher hopes to identify areas in which the local service
providers can work together to help homeless individuals in a more efficient
manner. Another goal of this research is to provide an opportunity for the homeless
community to share their experience and the barriers to living a stable, sheltered
life, and to learn how the community can best support these individuals through a
difficult time in their life. Depending on the outcomes and themes of the research,
the interviewers hope to present the materials to the county officials and local
service providers as needed to make institutional change where possible.

References
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