“Viver aqui é difícil”: narrativas de pessoas em situação de rua sobre vivências em acolhimento institucional

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the narratives of homeless individuals about their experiences in socio-assistance institutional sheltering services, problematizing housing as an ethical-political horizon for a dignified life. A qualitative study was conducted, involving participant observation, field diaries, and semi-structured interviews with eight adult homeless men who frequent a socio-assistance institution located in the central region of São Paulo. The data collected were analyzed using Thematic Analysis, with the aid of ATLAS.ti software, and organized into thematic categories. In summary, the findings reveal three main trends: (1) sheltering services are recognized as spaces that provide an escape from the streets, offering some level of protection from the elements and addressing basic daily needs for life organization, such as physiological necessities; (2) at the same time, these services are identified as spaces that (re)produce violence and fail to promote autonomy or dignity for homeless individuals; (3) housing emerges as a fundamental right to be achieved, capable of providing psychosocial guarantees, such as freedom and autonomy, which are essential for a dignified life and go beyond material conditions.