| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis analyzes the concept of homelessness, methods of assisting people experiencing homelessness, and experiences of community life within the Bethlehem’s Hut community operating in Italy. A review of the literature revealed that homelessness is a multifaceted phenomenon encompassing not only a lack of housing but also a loss of security, social connections, stability, health, and recognition. The experiences of people experiencing homelessness are often linked to addictions, mental health disorders, trauma, and stigmatization. The thesis discusses traditional models of assistance—Treatment first and Housing first—and highlights the importance of religious and community-based support. The study is grounded in three theoretical approaches: Folgheraiter’s theory of relational social work, Derrida and Levinas theory of radical hospitality, and Honneth’s theory of social invisibility. These perspectives allow us to understand support as a welcoming, empathetic, relationship-based practice that restores human dignity. A qualitative research method was applied in the study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The study results showed that experiences of homelessness are often linked to traumatic experiences, rejection, or broken relationships, while life on the street for some individuals becomes a space of supposed freedom, the absence of rules, and habit. The assistance provided by Bethlehem’s Hut is not limited to meeting basic needs; the essential method of support lies in building relationships, daily companionship, unconditional acceptance, and the restoration of dignity. The community functions as a family in which sharing, faith, vocation, mutual closeness, and responsibility are important. The research revealed that connection and love become the main conditions that enable people experiencing homelessness to feel visible, accepted, and valuable once again. |
