Table Of ContentWORK LIVES OF HOMELESS MEN
ERIC WALLACE
B.A., Classics
Ohio State University
March 2001
M.Ed., Middle Childhood Education
Ohio State University
August 2004
M.A., Counseling and Social Psychology
Ball State University
August 2009
Submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree:
Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education
Counseling Psychology Specialization
Cleveland State University
November, 2017
©Copyright by Eric Wallace, 2017
We hereby approve the dissertation of
Eric Wallace
Candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education,
Counseling Psychology Specialization
This Dissertation has been approved for the Office of Doctoral Studies,
the College of Education and Human Services,
and Cleveland State University, College of Graduate Studies by:
____________________________________________________________________
Donna E. Schultheiss, Ph.D., Chairperson and Methodologist
Curriculum, Administration, Supervision, and Adult Learning
____________________________________________________________________
Graham B. Stead, Ph.D.
Curriculum and Foundations
____________________________________________________________________
Julia C. Phillips. Ph.D.
Curriculum, Administration, Supervision, and Adult Learning
____________________________________________________________________
Peter Meiksins Ph.D.
Department of Sociology
__________________________________________________________________
Justin Perry, Ph.D.
College of Education, University of Missouri Kansas City
th
November 29 , 2017
Candidate’s Date of Defense
Dedication
To my parents and my sisters, for endless support,
and to Lauren, for putting up with me while I finished.
Acknowledgements
Thanks to:
Donna Schultheiss, for helping me bring this study to fruition, and for providing advice
since Fall 2009. This help was presaged by a conversation about my future plans at Ball
State in the Summer of 2009, during which Kristen Perrone told me “I think you’ll like
Donna Schultheiss.”
Justin Perry, for many years of engaging community based research and many interesting
conversations that accompanied thinking and writing about it, including involving me in
the shelter where this research took place.
Laura Moncrief and Jeff Rosenbaum for helping me learn how to say “I don’t have
enough time to do all of that,” and to realize I do not have try to do every scrap of work I
am offered, even if the work is interesting and will help other people.
CSU counseling psychology faculty pushing me to prioritize my work and finish.
WORK LIVES OF HOMELESS MEN
ERIC WALLACE
ABSTRACT
This study sought to better understand how currently homel ess men have met their work
needs through a mix of formal and informal work across their lives. The Biographical
Narrative Interview Method (BNIM), a qualitative method that seeks to analyze
biographical narratives related in interviews, was utilized to co llect and analyze the data.
The loss of blue-collar jobs, criminal histories, and substance abuse difficulties all served
to circumscribe the work available to these men. Nevertheless, participants negotiated
these circumstances, as well as early traumas, to build complex work histories. Social
connection emerged as a central need participants met through work. The status provided
by jobs was also very important, as many participants wanted to be viewed positively,
especially given perceived societal biases against them. Participants described several
other psychological needs met by work, including survival, time structure, competence,
and autonomy. Interconnections between needs and societal phenomena, such as the loss
of blue collar jobs, were observed in the narratives.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... vi
LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... xiii
CHAPTER:
I. INTRODUCTION ................................ ................................ ............................... 1
Defining Homelessness ................................ ................................ ................ 6
Ostensible Causes of Homelessness ................................ ............................ 8
Structural Explanations ................................ ................................ ....9
Housing Cost ................................ ................................ ......10
A Shifting Economy and Work ................................ .......... 11
Deindustrializ ation ................................ ............................. 12
Personal Explanations ................................ ................................ ....13
Mental Illness and Substance Dependence ........................ 13
Issues with Causality ................................ .......................... 15
Lack of Personal Responsibility ................................ ........17
Defining Work ................................ ................................ ........................... 18
Psychological Needs Filled by Work ................................ ......................... 21
Integrating Psychological of Working and Latent Benefits of Work ........24
Conclusion ................................ ................................ ................................ .25
II. LITERATURE REVIEW ................................ ................................ ................. 27
Pathways, Careers, and Biographies ................................ .......................... 28
Models of Homeless Careers ................................ ......................... 29
Challenges to Ideal Biographies ................................ .................... 34
Work in Homelessness ................................ ................................ ............... 37
vii
Types of Work ...............................................................................38
Regular Work .....................................................................39
Day Labor ..........................................................................39
Institutional Work ..............................................................40
Informal Day Labor or Tasks .............................................41
Scavenging and Recycling .................................................41
Panhandling........................................................................42
Selling ................................................................................43
Criminal Activity ...............................................................45
Barriers to Work ............................................................................44
Criminal History ................................................................45
Race....................................................................................46
Education and Training ......................................................47
Geographical Limiting Factors ..........................................47
Factors Associated with Being Homeless ..........................48
How Much of Each Type of Work? ...............................................49
Meeting Psychological Needs in Work......................................................52
Survival ..........................................................................................55
Actual Versus Relative Survival ........................................55
The Meaning of Relative Survival .....................................56
Extrication from Homelessness .........................................56
Meeting Daily Needs .........................................................57
Remuneration Available for Formal and Informal Work ..58
viii
Drug and Alcohol Funding ................................................58
Social Status & Identity .................................................................59
Work Choice ......................................................................60
Presentation Strategies .......................................................61
Geographical Influences on Work Choice .........................62
Collective Effort.............................................................................62
Time Structure ...............................................................................64
Autonomy ......................................................................................64
Social Connection ..........................................................................65
Social Capital and Weak Ties ............................................66
Summary ....................................................................................................66
III. METHOD .......................................................................................................68
Rationale for BNIM ...................................................................................68
Philosophical Premises ..................................................................71
BNIM Research Design .............................................................................73
Procedures ..................................................................................................77
Sampling ........................................................................................77
Interviews .......................................................................................78
Primary Researcher ........................................................................78
“Kick Start” Panel ..........................................................................80
Participants .....................................................................................81
BNIM Data Analysis..................................................................................82
Conclusion .................................................................................................89
ix
IV. RESULTS .......................................................................................................90
The Cases ...................................................................................................91
Henry..............................................................................................92
David ............................................................................................101
Robert ...........................................................................................112
John .............................................................................................119
Jason .............................................................................................126
James ............................................................................................131
Michael ........................................................................................139
Harold ..........................................................................................147
Edward .........................................................................................153
Paul ..............................................................................................160
Case Comparisons ....................................................................................172
Narrative Structural Patterns ........................................................172
Are Narratives Shaped By Work That Was Available ................176
Life Events and Circumstances ....................................................178
Work Experiences and History ........................................179
Childhood Events .............................................................183
Blue Collar Work .............................................................185
Criminal Offenses ............................................................186
Substance Abuse ..............................................................187
Meeting Need Through Work Across the Lifespan .....................189
Social Connection and Relationships...............................190
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