engleski

Homelessness in Croatia

Homelessness is a relatively new phenomenon in most Croatian cities that has been largely ignored by policymakers and social scientists over the last two decades. This study is part of a qualitative research project that aims to contribute new data (on a completely unresearched social group in Croatia). It is also a response to the urgent need of gaining a fuller understanding of the perceptions and experiences of the homeless in Croatia. This analysis incorporates a holistic approach that takes a broad, ecological, gendered perspective viewing an individual’s homelessness within larger processes in society. This paper has a social exclusion focus with the intention of addressing the multi-faceted disadvantages that the homeless in Croatia face. Following a brief description of their demographic characteristics, implications of their material poverty will be discussed. The paths and consequences of (repeated) periods of homelessness and how this reflects on their health and social well-being will be then be examined. Findings show that the homeless in Croatia are disadvantaged in multi-faceted ways which inevitably facilitates their routes into social exclusion.

homelessness; social exclusion; Croatia; qualitative research

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