Aging in a transient place: Reflections on place meaning, third places, and social connection among displaced and older adults experiencing homelessness

Abstract Background and Objectives The number of people experiencing homelessness (PEH) and residential displacement is increasing. Unlike in larger cities, unhoused individuals in less dense areas may encounter difficulty accessing supports. This research examines experiences among displaced, formerly homeless, and PEH in a mid-sized town in Connecticut. Barriers and facilitators to aging-in-place are examined. Research Design and Methods Recruited from a community sample, participants (N=27) were asked to photograph their everyday lives during a two-week period, and were later interviewed about their experience using the Photovoice method. Hand-coded thematic analysis was used to interpret data. Results Findings suggest that meaning attached to physical places and communities was important to participants’ everyday experiences. Supportive communities were cited as resources for a sense of belonging. Places ranked as highly meaningful included the outdoors, the sidewalk, and third places (e.g., quasi-public spaces for socialization). Third places emerged as facilitators for social ties, establishing “everyday life” patterns, and creating a sense of meaning. Decisions tied to aging-in-place reflected circumstance and survival, rather than desire. Themes related to social exclusion, hypervisibility, and feeling unwelcome within the town context were also discussed. Discussion and Implications Both social and material supports are critical to aging in the ‘right’ place, particularly for individuals who have experienced housing precarity. Given that conditions for aging-in-place often begin in midlife and may change across contexts, meeting the needs of precariously housed adults requires a reframing of age-friendly initiatives that are inclusive and integrated with the social fabric of town and city life.