Fatherly Figures in Homeless Assistance

The field of homelessness and homelessness assistance is characterised by a lack of thematisation of fatherhood and social science research on this topic can often be characterised as gender-blind men's research. This article presents the concept of hegemonic masculinity, a relational approach that focusses on relationships both between and within the sexes.

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In the context of a gender-sensitive approach to homelessness in Social Work, it has to be noted that although most of the services offered by Vienna's homelessness services are aimed at men, there is little reflection in practice on how to deal with fatherhood, the role of the father and fatherhood. For example, unlike in the USA or Australia, there are no specific programmes in Vienna for homeless fathers who become homeless with or without their children.

The connection between homelessness and fatherhood is also a research gap in the national and international academic discourse, with only a few, mostly qualitative studies being conducted in this regard. Systematic analyses of the relationships and interactions between social workers and recipients and of the institutional conditions of accommodation are virtually non-existent in German-speaking and Anglo-American countries. A scientific-methodological approach that makes the theoretical concept of hegemonic masculinity (or paternity) usable for empirical research in the field of social work has not yet been developed.

In cooperation with two selected organisations in the Viennese homeless assistance sector (JUCA Caritas Vienna, neunerhaus), the life situation of homeless men who are not accommodated with their children will be examined as part of comparative case studies, as this can be identified as a large but largely unnoticed group in Social Work. The aim is to record the relationships of men in this crisis situation from a subject-orientated perspective. At the same time, these views are to be contrasted with a social work professional perspective, whereby relationships, help processes and interactions between clients and social workers as well as influences of institutional framework conditions are to be researched. To this end, three to four men were selected per organisation: The aim is to differentiate the interviewees according to their age or the age of their children so that similarities and differences between young and older fathers as well as shorter and longer parenthood can be recognised.

As part of a methodological triangulation, key documents (e.g. professional guidelines, documentation guidelines or case documents) are consulted, individual interviews are conducted with clients and the social workers in charge of each case and topic-centred consultations are organised between social workers and clients. This explorative approach and the evaluation of the material will be used to analyse the experiences, ideas and interactions of the interviewees and to reconstruct results on the lifestyle of those affected, the professional social work practice as well as conducive or obstructive aspects of the institutional framework conditions.