The streets are no place to live: dialogues on barriers and possibilities

Abstract

Introduction: The sustained increase in the number of homeless people in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is closely related to the absence or insufficiency of public policies that respond comprehensively to the population’s needs. Objective: This article seeks to make visible the voices of those who experience or have experienced homelessness, with the aim of identifying the barriers they face in their everyday lives and describing the supports they require for greater participation. Method: The research adopted a qualitative and descriptive approach based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 people aged 18 years or older who are or have been homeless in the last two years. Results: Homeless people face numerous barriers daily, such as informal employment, low income, stigmatization, and the lack of public policies that respond to their needs. The supports that could improve their living conditions are those that favor access to decent jobs, supportive spaces, and affective networks. Conclusions: Homeless people face numerous barriers; nevertheless, they have identified a series of supports that would help them improve their situation. The findings indicate the need for a comprehensive approach, with intersectoral coordination and an intersectional perspective. We hope that this study will be considered in the future design of public policies directed at this population.