Experiences of belonging following homelessness: a systematic review and meta-aggregation

Belonging is a human need and an essential component of community integration following homelessness. Little is known about the range of studies exploring experiences of belonging following homelessness. We conducted this systematic review and meta-aggregation to address this gap using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines (PRISMA). We searched seven databases (EMBASE; PsychINFO; CINAHL; Medline; AMED; Nursing and Allied Health Database; and Sociological Abstracts), combining three main concepts: 1) homelessness; 2) belonging; and 3) transition. The search identified 2504 titles and abstracts. Of these, we included 33 studies in our review and meta-aggregation. Our meta-aggregation generated four themes describing experiences of belonging following homelessness: 1) developing a sense of belonging is a challenging process in the transition to housing; 2) shifting connections and finding new belonging; 3) belonging through engaging in meaningful activities; and 4) housing as a foundation for connection. These findings indicate that housing stability creates opportunities to belong but developing a sense of belonging is a difficult process involving changes in social networks facilitated by engaging with others in meaningful activities.