The Role of Companionship in Volunteer Homelessness Support Services: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Drawing on developments in the application of occupational science to issues of homelessness and tenancy sustainability, this paper will argue for the recognition of authentic, everyday relationships as a core part of tenancy support. Data from a small-scale evaluation of a volunteer-led homelessness support service will be explored through a framework of social support to show the importance of companionship in enabling individuals to exit homelessness. The data show that individuals valued the provision of social support from volunteers in everyday locations, as it replicated authentic relationships which individuals had sometimes lost through their experiences of homelessness. This paper argues that the facilitation of authentic, everyday relationships should be considered an important part of homelessness support.

Keywords

• homelessness
• social support
• volunteers
• companionship