Attachment, trauma and homelessness

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe research into attachment styles of rough sleepers and considersthe implications for practice.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was structured interviews with a cohort of rough sleepers analysed through evidence-based techniques, and the implications were drawn out with reference to current best practice.

Findings

The rough sleepers in the cohort had a very different pattern of attachment styles to the housed population, with 100% insecure vs c35%, and 50% insecure disorganised vs >15%.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation is that the cohort was relatively small, n = 22 and was a sample of convenience. The implications are that homelessness services working with rough sleepers need to be attachment-informed as much as trauma-informed.

Practical implications

Practical implications are that homelessness services need to have a more rounded psychological perspective such as psychologically informed environments rather than just a trauma-informed approach.

Social implications

Rough sleepers suffer from deeply pervasive and severe attachment disorders, and this may be causal to their becoming rough sleepers and is certainly a factor in whether or not they are successfully rehoused.

Originality/value

There is almost no other original research published into the attachment styles of rough sleepers or homeless people. The current trend is for trauma-informed services: the call for attachment-informed ones is original.

Citation

Barreto, E. and Cockersell, P. (2024), "Attachment, trauma and homelessness", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 30-41. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-06-2023-0066