At Doorway we are interested in the power of words, especially those relevant to the core of our frontline work with those who access our services.

Words like ‘homelessness’ are easy to throw around in conversation but what does it really mean to those who have experienced it, are currently experiencing it or are faced with the possibility of experiencing it?

In order to gain a better understanding of the word ‘homelessness’ it is important to flip the entire perspective and reflect on the meaning of the word ‘home’ and therefore appreciate what is missing when one is in fact ‘homeless’.

If we consider the way in which people identify and become attached to places, people, buildings or objects, then we are able to see a direct correlation between this attachment and to someone’s well-being, how they feel about themselves and their self-identity.

Attachment to a place or a ‘home’ can engender feelings of belonging, safety, security and a permanence to someone’s current situation; all of which enhance feelings of self-worth and self-esteem.

However, not all experiences of home can be positive. The physical environment, or being isolated and alone, or relationships with others inside that physical space can all affect how someone feels about their home. And it is possible that people can experience both positive and negative feelings at the same time, for example someone may be in a physically safe place with a roof over their head but might also be in a fearful place due to their physically unsafe relationship with someone else in the property.

Attachment to a place called ‘home’ is also achieved through the possessions with which we surround ourselves.

This makes a clear statement of the person that you are, your identity. Often when people are ‘homeless’ or in a temporary ‘home’ or move around regularly, this is the part of their identity that can be lost. And this element plays a critical part in their overall psychological well-being.

Another way of supporting your identity is through the people who you live with. Not only is one’s self-identity important but also that feeling of belonging to a group is critical to establishing a ‘home’ environment.

It is apparent then that the term ‘home’ brings together physical, social and psychological elements, any of which can be easily disrupted, thereby affecting a person’s well-being.

Thinking about attachment leads on to the direct opposite and we are consequently able to have a better understanding as to how people can feel if these critical elements of belonging or identity are missing.

However, no matter how long any of us have worked in this field, we are never presumptuous enough to claim that we know what our service users are experiencing or feeling without actually asking them. And therefore we recently asked our guests to explore what the word ‘home’ meant to them.

And whilst the majority of our guests wrote down the standard statements that we were expecting, we were mightily impressed by their ability to actually express themselves in words that conveyed their hopes, fears, and feelings of self-identity and overall wellbeing.

“Home is better than ‘homeless’! But when you have a home you have the spectre of ‘homelessness’ hanging over you, so much responsibility. I love my home but I am always worried that I am going to lose it. Isn’t ‘home’ supposed to be security? I’m perpetually worried.”

Everyone was more than happy to partake in our survey except for one person. Unfortunately, he had never actually experienced anywhere that he could have called ‘home’.

The results can be found on our blog http://doorwayproject.wordpress.com/