ROLE EXIT FROM HOME TO HOMELESS

This paper addresses homeless ness as an involuntary type of role exit, experienced by women residing in emergency shelters or a transitional housing program. Put forth is an analysis of Ebaugh's role exit process (which has traditionally been applied to voluntary types of transitions). A reordered model is presented which considers a unique sequential process. Specifically, these areas a reexamined: the events leading to homelessness, decision making in terms of procuri11_9 shelter and other resources, the development of the homeless identity, the experience of homelessness as a distinctive role, and plans for exiting this role. INTRODUCTION this research deals with powerlessness, help-A growing area of study in the field of lessness, and uncontrollability. development is the process of transitions in Whether role exits are voluntary or not, adulthood (Allen, van de Vliert 1984; Conville they rarely happen as a result of one sudde