Abstract
Homelessness is a world-wide problem. In 2019, it was estimated that 4266 people were sleeping rough in England. Therefore, it is important to discuss the topic of homelessness, as the number of homeless individuals is increasing while physical and mental health is deteriorating. There is a significant amount of research on homelessness; however, much of the research stops short of exploring the experiences of individuals once they have moved into supported housing. This study, therefore, looks at experiences of perceived identity change following the transition from being homeless to living independently using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four super-ordinate themes were revealed through analysis of the data: the ghosts of the past and present; switching the spotlight; “Connection […] it’s a form of armour” and “Swinging from trees to trees”. Generally, the findings coincide with previous research evidence on transitions within homelessness and the instability and disconnection that accompany them. However, the current study enhances our previous knowledge by highlighting that these participants still appear to be affected by the instability and detachment from culture and relationships for an extended time after they have begun to live independently. These findings have implications for professionals, including in the areas of how homeless individuals may relate to others and access help and plausibly in preventing chronic homelessness. Overall, it is concluded that the experience of identity transition is ongoing and continues to influence the quality of life of individuals for a length of time. This research offers suggestions about how Counselling Psychologists (CoP) can develop a pluralistic understanding of how to work with previously homeless men with a focus on diversity and context which is in line with CoP values. It further offers ways in which homeless services can keep this in mind while considering support and care pathways for their service users.