"It's not the end of the story:" Understanding the continued recovery from homelessness using Photovoice and content analysis.

In this multipart study, participants in a Housing First program on the Island of O'ahu conducted a Photovoice project involving participatory analysis to investigate the recovery process from homelessness several years after being housed. University researchers then conducted a secondary analysis of the Photovoice study content to expand on findings and examine the unique contributions of the different methods. Findings suggest that individuals who have experienced homelessness will likely need continued support, particularly social support and opportunities for community engagement, well after initial housing. Findings also suggests that a combination of iterative analytic methods that remain participatory may be most useful for examining lived experiences of individuals recovering from homelessness. The study represents a participatory investigation of recovery from homelessness, as well as a rigorous inquiry into the research methods best suited to investigate this lived experience.

A state of emergency: Dominant cultural narratives on homelessness in Hawai'i.

This exploratory study aimed to identify the dominant cultural narratives on homelessness in Hawai'i-an area of the United States that has seen a precipitous increase in homelessness amid overall national decline. Because media is a primary way in which these narratives are created, solidified, and perpetuated, this study sought to understand the role the local media played in constructing homelessness narratives during this homelessness "crisis." This study used thematic content analysis of a random sample of 648 articles of Hawai'i media coverage between 2012 and 2017. The analysis found that media coverage of homelessness in Hawai'i emphasized structural-level causes and solutions, while simultaneously relying on stereotypes and stigmatizing characteristics. However, coverage became more complex over time and was open to revision based on new information. This study suggests that media could be a viable target of interventions seeking to produce healthy and accurate narratives.