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Hidden Homelessness: A Scoping Review and Avenues for Further Inquiry

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2021

Harm Deleu Open the ORCID record for Harm Deleu [Opens in a new window] ,
Mieke Schrooten Open the ORCID record for Mieke Schrooten [Opens in a new window]  and
Koen Hermans
Harm Deleu
Affiliation:
Social Work Department, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Brussels, Belgium. Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. E-mail: harm.deleu@odisee.be
Mieke Schrooten
Affiliation:
Social Work Department, Odisee University of Applied Sciences, Brussels, Belgium. Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. E-mail: mieke.schrooten@odisee.be
Koen Hermans
Affiliation:
Centre for Sociological Research/LUCAS, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. E-mail: koen.hermans@kuleuven.be
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Abstract

Traditional interpretations of homelessness focus on people living on the streets or in shelters. However, homelessness encompasses many more living situations. This article reports on a scoping review of studies on hidden homelessness. A systematic search in scientific databanks was combined with an exploration of Google Scholar. The results of the review reveal a lack of consensus regarding the definition of the concept. Moreover, since most studies focus on a certain subgroup in the population, it is hard to compare profile characteristics of people living in different forms of homelessness. The applied research methods prove to be valuable, although they often underestimate the number and/or character of the phenomena. Very little longitudinal research on hidden homelessness seems to be available. Based on the findings of the scoping review, the article draws up an agenda for further research in order to capture the complex reality of contemporary forms of homelessness.

Keywords

Homelessnesshidden homelessnessscoping reviewsofa surfingnon-conventional housing

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Type
Article
Information
Social Policy and Society , Volume 22 , Issue 2: THEMED SECTION: Mapping the Shifts in Russian and European Welfare Polities , April 2023 , pp. 282 - 298
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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