Jean Hughes
Dalhousie University, Canada
Title: First voice experiences of homeless mothers: Their journey through pregnancy and motherhood and for some away from addictions
Biography
Biography: Jean Hughes
Abstract
Youth between the ages of 16 and 24 are considered one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. Research shows that the street youth population is diverse, complex and heterogeneous, and includes a number of subcultures including hard-core street entrenched young people, group home kids, refugees and immigrants, and young single mothers. Relative to the large body of work examining the risks associated with pathways into youth homelessness and the risks associated with living on the streets, a limited amount of research has concentrated on pathways out of homelessness. The exiting street life study was designed to address this gap by carrying out an in-depth, longitudinal, mixed-methods examination of 51 young people as they tried to transition away from homelessness in Canada’s largest city (Toronto) and a medium sized city (Halifax). One critical area of study was the trajectory out of homelessness by mothers: (4 Toronto and 9 Halifax). The primary question focused on: What are the lived experiences of homeless young mothers as they negotiate the individual, sociocultural, and economic tensions of transitioning out of homeless and street contexts and cultures? This presentation focuses on the critical factors that assisted mothers in making positive gains. The paper also examines how the findings can mobilize changes in education and policy – both in nursing and beyond?