Supportive housing building policies and resident psychological needs: a qualitative analysis using self-determination theory

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) increases housing stability and improves health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at risk of homelessness. We conducted 24 semi-structured qualitative interviews with PLHIV at risk of homelessness living in a PSH building in Vancouver, Canada, with the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inHousing studies Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 642 - 660
Main Authors Burgess, Heather, Vorobyova, Anna, Marziali, Megan, Koehn, Katrina, Jongbloed, Kate, Von Bischoffshausen, Otto, Salters, Kate A., Hogg, Robert S., Parashar, Surita
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Harlow Routledge 21.04.2023
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects
Alternative approaches
Autonomy
building policies
First principles
Health risks
Health status
HIV
HIV/AIDS
Homeless people
Homelessness
Housing
Housing policy
Human immunodeficiency virus
Interviews
Mental health
Permanent supportive housing
Policies
Psychological needs
Psychological theories
Psychosocial factors
qualitative
Qualitative analysis
Qualitative research
Relatedness
Residents
Risk
Safety
Self determination
self-determination theory
Stability analysis
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) increases housing stability and improves health outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at risk of homelessness. We conducted 24 semi-structured qualitative interviews with PLHIV at risk of homelessness living in a PSH building in Vancouver, Canada, with the aim of understanding how PSH building policies impact residents' health. Interviews were analyzed using self-determination theory and Housing First principles. The housing provider prioritized residents' physical safety, while participants often prioritized other needs, such as autonomy and relatedness. While building policies improved some participants' perceived safety or autonomy, these policies simultaneously interfered with other participants' efforts to meet alternative needs. In contrast, supportive strategies, such as the autonomy-supportive models of Housing First initiatives, appear more effective at meeting needs, with fewer unintended consequences. A shift towards autonomy-supportive housing environments for persons with complex psychosocial needs at risk of homelessness is needed, as is the deliberate alignment of resident population, tenant intake, building structure, and program model.
ISSN:0267-3037
1466-1810
DOI:10.1080/02673037.2021.1900548