Homeless’s Dynamic Meaning of Home: A Case Study of omeless Shelter by Human Settlement Foundation Thailand

Abstract

The purposes of this article are (1) to examine the homeless’ experience of ‘Home’ – how it has been changed before and after they get into the homeless temporary shelter and when they have their own dwellings, (2) to study the relation between a meaning aspect and a physical aspect of dwelling that causes changes in defning ‘Home’ in an authority dimension, a family - area dimension and a self-identity dimension and (3) to study how the operation of Human Settlement Foundation  Thailand (HSFT) to the homeless affects their experience of ‘Home’. The sample consists of 2 HSFT offcers, 11 homeless people in the temporary shelter and 3 homeless people who have already moved to Chum Chon Mai. From the study, the result shows that their meaning of ‘Home’ does not involve only a physical aspect but also connect to a mental aspect such as sense of security, both inside and outside, self - independence and belonging. One of the interesting issues presented in this paper is the family-like relationship under the shelter. This horizontal relationship builds up the feeling of empathy and acceptance among the group. Besides that, the way the homeless sets their private areas up under the temporary shelter in which the physical structure is totally different from conventional house. Being as a mentor, Human Settlement Foundation Thailand (HSFT) is the most important mechanism moving and supporting this shelter.