“Walk in My Shoes”: The Worlds of Adult Learners Experiencing Homelessness at an Addiction Recovery Shelter

• In Event: Teaching and Learning With Marginalized Adult Learners

Abstract

Experiences of homelessness intersect with structural barriers such as classism and racism, impacting education, health, and life opportunities. This qualitative case study investigates how individuals in addiction recovery at a homeless shelter engage in an online course to learn software skills and navigate complex environments as adult-learners. Through 36 interviews (to date) with individuals experiencing homelessness and shelter staff, we utilize the 'Figured Worlds' framework (Holland et al., 1998) to explore how they (re)define their identities. Our findings highlight the multifaceted self-concepts of participants, offering insights for adult-education scholars and practitioners interested in understanding their self-concept.

Authors

• Mai Zaru, Southern Methodist University

• Alexandra E. Pavlakis, Southern Methodist University

• Margeret Hall, University of Nebraska - Omaha

• Michelle Friend, University of Nebraska - Omaha