engleski

Trajectories to the coast and islands: The meanings of these journeys among people experiencing homelessness

Changes of place or breaks can afford opportunities for people to live differently, to change routines and to experience other aspects of life (McGabe 2009). This paper analyses the ways in which some homeless people re-situate activities (work or leisure related) by traversing to different coastal and island scapes to gain a refreshed perspective on life. These journeys that are mostly short-term may be related to new work opportunities, coping strategies or ways to escape from the everyday drudgery of homelessness. This paper was based on qualitative data gathered from two projects: GENMOD project Relational Gender Relations in Croatia: Modernization and Development Perspectives (HRZZ-IP-2016-06-6010) and the CSRP project Exploring Homelessness and Pathways to Social Inclusion: A Comparative Study of Contexts and Challenges in Swiss and Croatian Cities (No. IZHRZO_180631/1). This study examines the trajectories some homeless people take and the meanings that they attach to these journeys that lead to the coast or islands in Croatia. Contrastingly, a reluctance to return to island birthplaces were also noted in cases of severed family ties which triggered or aggravated their homelessness situations in the first place. Moreover, an absence of any emotional connection to these spaces make it difficult for homeless people to readily choose nursing homes on islands as their ‘last station’. This paper through an analysis of all these homeless trajectories revealing different life-situations intends to give deeper insight into the complexities and multi-dimensionality of homelessness in Croatia.

trajectories ; leisure ; homelessness ; coping strategies ; Croatia

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