‘Even a smile helps’: Exploring the interactions between people experiencing homelessness and passersby in public spaces

Background: Many people experiencing homelessness dwell, panhandle, or congregate in public spaces where they frequently cross paths with others. In these spaces, they can be recipients of acts of kindness or emotional and physical insult, but there is little research on the quality, nature, or value of interactions between people living on the street and those who pass them by. Aim: This study explored the lived experiences of unhoused people who panhandle and their interactions with passersby in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Methods: Forty semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants who were approached while panhandling and asked to describe their experiences asking for help in public and accessing homelessness services, as well as what they wished to share with passersby. Interviews were coded and analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Results: Participants described being ignored and subjected to violence, leading them to crave meaningful interaction with passersby. They also described experiences of receiving kindness and support while panhandling. Many shared personal histories of tragedy and called for greater empathy and compassion from passersby, as well as society as a whole, for people experiencing homelessness. Conclusion: Participants’ experiences were consistent with loneliness, as characterized in the literature as distress at lack of social connection, and were also notable for the verbal and physical violence endured in public spaces. Social isolation and trauma are detrimental to mental health in this vulnerable group, so interventions to support this population should provide opportunities for consistent, supportive social connections and focus on providing low-barrier, stable housing.