Vaardigheid in overleven: Over de sociale competenties van dak- en thuislozen

Samenvatting

It is argued that the sociopsychological approach has been too dominant a paradigm in homelessness research in the Netherlands since the 1960s. A proposed shift toward a sociological perspective, in which the social potentials of the homeless are emphasized rather than buried under a view of the homeless as dysfunctional or incompetent individuals, is illustrated via urban ethnographic data from intensive observation of & in-depth interviews with 64 homeless people in Utrecht. Social categories & stratification in the homeless population are discussed, along with factors (eg, begging skills, financial abilities, time spent homeless, & desire to return to regular society) that determine the position of individuals in their groups & their ability to survive. It is concluded that, to arrive at better insights regarding the causes & dynamics of homelessness, a combination of complementary research approaches & methods is essential. 45 References. Adapted from the source document.