Using a modified version of photovoice in a European cross‐national study on homelessness

This study proposes an innovative use of a modified version of photovoice for cross‐national qualitative research that allows participants to express their ideas, experiences, and emotions about a topic through photographic language. We examine factors affecting social service providers' work on people experiencing homelessness in Europe. We highlight five advantages of using photovoice in cross‐national research: visual language, methodological flexibility, participatory data analysis, the bottom‐up process, and the promotion of social change. Moreover, we identify key stages of the process: writing a detailed protocol for the implementation and fidelity of the projects, using two levels of data analysis, and disseminating the results. This study provides lessons learned for others who may want to use photovoice in cross‐national research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Home as a base for a Well-Lived Life: Comparing the capabilities of homeless service users in housing first and the staircase of transition in Europe

Nussbaum’s Central Capabilities refer to the elements of a well-lived life, and many adults who experience homelessness are deprived of these capabilities. The study aim was to investigate whether service users experience different homeless services as affording or constraining capabilities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with homeless service users (n = 77) in Housing First (HF) and staircase services (SS) in eight European countries. We used thematic analysis to identify three themes: autonomy and dependency, the relational impact of living arrangements, and community interaction and stigma. While SS participants were able to address their bodily integrity and health, their higherorder capabilities were constrained by their homeless situations. HF participants described home as a base from which they could enact a wide range of capabilities indicative of a well-lived life. We conclude that housing-led service models with appropriate supports are key to affording service users’ capabilities. Practical and policy implications are discussed.Orizoninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Factors associated with providers’ work engagement and burnout in homeless services: A cross‐national study

The complexity of homeless service users' characteristics and the contextual challenges faced by services can make the experience of working with people in homelessness stressful and can put providers' well-being at risk. In the current study, we investigated the association between service characteristics (i.e., the availability of training and supervision and the capability-fostering approach) and social service providers' work engagement and burnout. The study involved 497 social service providers working in homeless services in eight different European countries (62% women; mean age = 40.73, SD = 10.45) and was part of the Horizon 2020 European study "Homelessness as Unfairness (HOME_EU)." Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), findings showed that the availability of training and supervision were positively associated with providers' work engagement and negatively associated with burnout. However, results varied based on the perceived usefulness of the training and supervision provided within the service and the specific outcome considered. The most consistent finding was the association between the degree to which a service promotes users' capabilities and all the aspects of providers' well-being analyzed. Results are discussed in relation to their implications for how configuration of homeless services can promote social service providers' well-being and high-quality care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Working with people experiencing homelessness in Europe

In Europe, the widespread transition from the Traditional Staircase (TS) model to the Housing First (HF) model is transforming the way social service providers work with people experiencing homelessness. This study examined social service providers’ perspectives in both models regarding factors that facilitate or hinder their work. Data were collected through 17 photovoice projects involving 81 social service providers from eight European countries. The results show factors affecting social service providers’ work at three levels: systemic, organizational, and individual. Professionals in TS and HF identified similar topics; however, TS providers discussed more obstacles to work. Implications for practice are discussed.Comissão Européiainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The photo diaries method to catch the daily experience of Italian university students during COVID-19 lockdown

The aim of this research was to explore Italian students’ lockdown experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand their emotions and the coping strategies they played out during their daily lives at home through photo diaries. The research was carried out in six Italian universities involving 109 participants. The task required each student to take one photo per day for one week in T1 and one in T2, representing their mood during their daily life at home and to give it a title and a brief description. Overall, 1,526 photographs with texts were collected. The main subjects of the photographs were objects, the most frequent coping strategy was self-distraction, and most participants expressed emotions of joy and anticipation but also sadness and fear. Then, the associations between the characteristics of their photos and the emotions and coping strategies from their diary entries were analyzed. For example, emotional support and joy were positively associated with family, pets, and food, while fear and sadness were represented with objects. Implications of the results are discussed, including considerations about using photo diaries during collective disasters

Psychometric properties of the measure of achieved capabilities in homeless services

Background Purposeful participation in personally meaningful life tasks, enjoyment of positive reciprocal relationships, and opportunities to realize one’s potential are growth-related aspects of a meaningful life that should be considered important dimensions of recovery from homelessness. The extent to which homeless services support individuals to achieve the capabilities they need to become who they want to be and do what they want to do is, in turn, an important indicator of their efectiveness. In this study, we developed a measure of achieved capabilities (MACHS) for use in homeless services settings, and assessed its construct and concurrent validity. Methods We analysed data collected from homeless services users at two time points in eight European countries to assess the factor structure and psychometric properties of the new measure. Participants were adults engaged with either Housing First (n=245) or treatment as usual (n=320). Results Exploratory and confrmatory factor analyses yielded a four-factor structure of the capabilities measure: community integration, optimism, safety, and self-determination. We obtained evidence for construct validity through observed correlations between achieved capabilities and recovery, working alliance and satisfaction with services. Moreover, we obtained evidence of the measure’s concurrent validity from its positive association between HF and personal recovery, which was fully mediated by achieved capabilities. Conclusions Findings demonstrate that the MACHS is a valid and reliable measure that may be used to assess the extent to which homeless services support their clients to develop capabilities needed for growth-related recovery. Implications for practice and future research directions are discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Working with people experiencing homelessness

This thesis starts with an analysis of attempts to define and solve the homelessness, with a focus on service delivery in Europe and the widespread transition from the Traditional Services (TS) to the Housing First model (HF) that is changing providers’ work. Few studies are focused on social providers’ prospective and factors affecting their work and there are not standardized instruments to analyze their working context. Then, Study 1 aimed to understand how social providers, working in HF or TS, describe the goals and the principles of their services, considering the importance of belief system in the implementation of a new working model, such as HF. The data were collected through 29 focus group discussions involving 121 providers in eight European countries. Regardless of the kind of service they worked in, providers indicated that their main goal was to support clients with integration, basic needs (food, shower, health), housing requirements, and well-being. Results of the Study 1 showed that providers in both types of services had the goal of clients’ integration. Given the unclear meaning of the construct in the literature about it, Study 2 aimed to explore the feelings associated with ‘integration’ from the point of view of people experiencing homelessness. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 26 people in Italian homeless services. Feelings clustered in three spheres: the intrapersonal sphere refers to feelings that exist within a person, such as dignity and freedom; the interpersonal sphere includes feelings that emerge from interactions with other people, such as respect; and the societal sphere involves the sense of usefulness and responsibility. Moreover, it seems relevant to analyze the working context of the providers to facilitate the achievement of service’s goals. For this reason, Study 3 aimed to explore which services’ characteristics affect the work of social providers by examining differences between workers in HF and TS teams in a cross-national study. Data were collected through Photovoice projects with social providers. Overall, 17 Photovoice projects were conducted, involving 81 participants in eight European countries. The results showed factors influencing providers’ work at three levels: systemic (e.g.: institutional attitude, structural features); organizational (e.g. support among colleagues, vision); individual (e.g.: clients’ problems, balance in relationships with clients). Results for TS and HF providers were similar, however TS providers identified more obtacles. Finally, in order to compare and measure strengths and weaknesses of homeless services, Study 4 aimed to develop a questionnaire (the SErvice PROviders’ Questionnaire – SE-PRO Q) identifying organizations’ profiles. The questionnaire was created basing on the qualitative results of photovoice projects (Study 3) and it was combined with providers’ stress and well-being dimensions (burnout and work engagement). SE-PRO Q was administered to 569 social providers in 8 European countries. Through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, SE PRO Q 24 version resulted; showing promising fit indexes and correlations to providers’ burn-out and work engagement. Overall, this thesis had the opportunity to ‘fill in’ missing pieces in our knowledge on the ecology of homelessness with a cross-national prospective and with an ecological approach. Implications of the results are discussed as suggestions to promote services facilitating work of social providers and integration of people experiencing homelessness.Il presente elaborato inizia con un’analisi dei tentativi di definire e risolvere il fenomeno delle persone che vivono la condizione di senza dimora, con particolare attenzione all'erogazione dei servizi in Europa e alla diffusa transizione dal modello dei Servizi Tradizionali (TS) al modello Housing First (HF) che sta cambiando il modo di lavorare degli operatori. Pochi studi sono focalizzati sull’analisi del punto di vista di chi lavora con questo target e sui fattori che influenzano il loro lavoro e non ci sono strumenti standardizzati per analizzare il loro contesto lavorativo. Per questo, lo Studio 1 ha cercato di capire come i professionisti, che lavorano in HF o TS, descrivono gli obiettivi e i principi dei loro servizi, considerando l'importanza del sistema di credenze nell'implementazione di un nuovo modello di lavoro, come l'HF. I dati sono stati raccolti attraverso 29 focus group che hanno coinvolto 121 operatori sociali in otto Paesi Europei. Indipendentemente dal tipo di servizio in cui lavoravano, gli operatori hanno indicato che il loro obiettivo principale era quello di aiutare i beneficiari a integrarsi, soddisfacendo i bisogni di base (cibo, doccia, salute), le esigenze abitative e il benessere generale. I risultati dello Studio 1 hanno dimostrato che i professionisti di entrambi i tipi di servizi hanno l'obiettivo di integrare i beneficiari. Dato il significato poco chiaro del costrutto nella letteratura, lo Studio 2 ha cercato di esplorare i sentimenti associate all' ‘integrazione’ dal punto di vista delle persone senza dimora. I dati sono stati raccolti attraverso interviste semi-strutturate con 26 persone nei servizi italiani per persone senza dimora. I sentimenti emersi sono stati raggruppati in tre sfere: la sfera intrapersonale, che si riferisce a sentimenti che esistono all’interno di una persona, come la dignità e la libertà; la sfera interpersonale, che include sentimenti che emergono dalle interazioni con altre persone, come il rispetto; e la sfera sociale, che coinvolge il senso di utilità e di responsabilità. Inoltre, sembra rilevante analizzare il contesto lavorativo dei professionisti dei servizi per facilitare il raggiungimento degli obiettivi del servizio. Per questo motivo, lo Studio 3 mirava ad esplorare quali caratteristiche dei servizi influenzano il lavoro degli operatori dei servizi, esaminando le differenze tra i lavoratori dei team HF e TS in uno studio transnazionale. I dati sono stati raccolti attraverso progetti di Photovoice con gli operatori. Complessivamente sono stati realizzati 17 progetti di Photovoice, che hanno coinvolto 81 partecipanti in otto Paesi Europei. I risultati hanno mostrato fattori che influenzano il lavoro dei fornitori a tre livelli: sistemico (es.: atteggiamento istituzionale, caratteristiche strutturali); organizzativo (es. supporto tra colleghi, vision condivisa); individuale (es. problemi dei beneficiari, equilibrio nelle relazioni con i beneficiari). I risultati per i team di TS e HF erano simili, ma i team di TS hanno identificato un maggior numero di ostacoli. Infine, al fine di confrontare e misurare i punti di forza e di debolezza dei servizi per persone senza dimora, lo Studio 4 mirava a sviluppare un questionario (SErvice PROviders' Questionnaire - SE-PRO Q) per identificare i profili delle organizzazioni. Il questionario è stato creato sulla base dei risultati qualitativi dei progetti di Photovoice (Studio 3) ed è stato combinato con l’analisi delle dimensioni di stress e benessere dei professionisti (burnout e impegno lavorativo). Il SE-PRO Q è stato somministrato a 569 operatori sociali in otto Paesi Europei. Attraverso un’ Analisi Fattoriale Confermativa è emersa la versione SE PRO Q 24, che mostra indici psicometrici promettenti e correlazioni al burnout e al coinvolgimento lavorativo dei professionisti. Nel complesso, questa tesi ha avuto l’opportunità di “riempire” pezzi mancanti nella letteratura riguardante i servizi per persone senza dimora, con una prospettiva transnazionale e con un approccio ecologico. Le implicazioni dei risultati sono discusse come suggerimenti per promuovere servizi che facilitino il lavoro dei professionisti dei servizi sociali e l’integrazione delle persone che vivono la condizione di senza dimora

Working with people experiencing homelessness

This thesis starts with an analysis of attempts to define and solve the homelessness, with a focus on service delivery in Europe and the widespread transition from the Traditional Services (TS) to the Housing First model (HF) that is changing providers’ work. Few studies are focused on social providers’ prospective and factors affecting their work and there are not standardized instruments to analyze their working context. Then, Study 1 aimed to understand how social providers, working in HF or TS, describe the goals and the principles of their services, considering the importance of belief system in the implementation of a new working model, such as HF. The data were collected through 29 focus group discussions involving 121 providers in eight European countries. Regardless of the kind of service they worked in, providers indicated that their main goal was to support clients with integration, basic needs (food, shower, health), housing requirements, and well-being. Results of the Study 1 showed that providers in both types of services had the goal of clients’ integration. Given the unclear meaning of the construct in the literature about it, Study 2 aimed to explore the feelings associated with ‘integration’ from the point of view of people experiencing homelessness. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 26 people in Italian homeless services. Feelings clustered in three spheres: the intrapersonal sphere refers to feelings that exist within a person, such as dignity and freedom; the interpersonal sphere includes feelings that emerge from interactions with other people, such as respect; and the societal sphere involves the sense of usefulness and responsibility. Moreover, it seems relevant to analyze the working context of the providers to facilitate the achievement of service’s goals. For this reason, Study 3 aimed to explore which services’ characteristics affect the work of social providers by examining differences between workers in HF and TS teams in a cross-national study. Data were collected through Photovoice projects with social providers. Overall, 17 Photovoice projects were conducted, involving 81 participants in eight European countries. The results showed factors influencing providers’ work at three levels: systemic (e.g.: institutional attitude, structural features); organizational (e.g. support among colleagues, vision); individual (e.g.: clients’ problems, balance in relationships with clients). Results for TS and HF providers were similar, however TS providers identified more obtacles. Finally, in order to compare and measure strengths and weaknesses of homeless services, Study 4 aimed to develop a questionnaire (the SErvice PROviders’ Questionnaire – SE-PRO Q) identifying organizations’ profiles. The questionnaire was created basing on the qualitative results of photovoice projects (Study 3) and it was combined with providers’ stress and well-being dimensions (burnout and work engagement). SE-PRO Q was administered to 569 social providers in 8 European countries. Through a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, SE PRO Q 24 version resulted; showing promising fit indexes and correlations to providers’ burn-out and work engagement. Overall, this thesis had the opportunity to ‘fill in’ missing pieces in our knowledge on the ecology of homelessness with a cross-national prospective and with an ecological approach. Implications of the results are discussed as suggestions to promote services facilitating work of social providers and integration of people experiencing homelessness

Guida pratica al photovoice. Promuovere consapevolezza e partecipazione sociale

La guida propone un'introduzione al Photovoice e un metodo di ricerca-azione partecipata usata nelle discipline sociali. Photovoice soprattutto uno strumento per dare voce alle persone, spesso escluse da processi decisionali, attraverso la fotografia. Si tratta, quindi, di una metodologia per far riflettere le persone sulle loro emozioni, storie, idee riguardo un determinato contesto sociale o una comunità. I protagonisti del percorso di photovoice sono proprio le persone partecipanti che, attraverso lo scatto di fotografie, rappresentano limiti e risorse del contesto che vivono e riflettono insieme per migliorarlo. La guida è il risultato delle esperienze maturate negli anni usando questa metodologia