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Making Better Lives - Home Making Among Homeless People in Paris


Type

Thesis

Change log

Authors

Lenhard, Johannes Felix 

Abstract

How do homeless people make homes on the street? Over two years of fieldwork in Paris, I observed the daily practices and routines of people who are sleeping rough. How do they earn money through begging? What factors do they consider when finding and making shelters? I followed people through different institutional settings – a homeless day centre, a needle exchange, a centre for people with alcohol problems and ultimately also a homeless shelter – on their way away from the street always documenting the conflicts between their short term – drugs and alcohol – and long term hopes. I observed the ways which they were supported by assistants socials and other institutional actors in their struggle to create spaces of reflective freedom. I argue that their efforts were about home making and as such about making a better life first on and then away from the street.

Description

Date

2017-10-13

Advisors

Laidlaw, James

Keywords

Homelessness, Anthropology, Inequality, Good Life

Qualification

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Awarding Institution

University of Cambridge