'Home Is Where You Are Together': Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Homeless People's Description of Home
Abstract
Background and objective: Homelessness is a pressing worldwide social and health concern. People who are housed may not necessarily adapt to being at 'home' and return to homelessness. To learn more, this study explored and synthesised how people with lived experiences of homelessness described the concept of 'home'. A meta-ethnographic qualitative systematic review was conducted to provide insights for improving housing outcomes and person-centred policies and programmes.
Search strategy: The search strategy was developed in Medline in consultation with an academic librarian and adapted for other databases. Seven databases and grey literature were systematically searched in March 2025. After removing duplicates, 3,013 records were screened in duplicate, with 44 included.
Inclusion criteria: Qualitative and mixed methods studies published in English were included, focusing on people aged 16-65. Included studies were appraised using a Reporting Assessment Checklist and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme.
Data extraction and synthesis: Participant quotes and interpretations of data were extracted and coded. Data synthesis translated concepts across studies using first-, second- and third-order analysis.
Results and discussion: Three themes were developed. Theme one ('home is stability and return to self') described a consistent and stable home as the foundation for identity development and outlook. Home was more than a physical space but the foundation for thriving. Theme…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Regulation of nucleolus assembly by non-coding RNA polymerase II transcripts
- For a Healthy Histone Code, a Little SUMO in the Tail Keeps the Acetyl Away
- Discovering a binary CTCF code with a little help from BORIS
- Article Commentary: Stabilizing the Code–-Methods to Preserve RNA Prove Their Worth
- Foreword to the Special Issue for the RINTC (The Implicit Seismic Risk of Code-Conforming Structures) Project
- Commentary: Promoting Health and Well-being in Pediatric Primary Care Settings: Using Health and Behavior Codes at Routine Well-child Visits
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.