Ontological security and permanent supportive housing in San Diego, California: connecting lived experience to policy

Although permanent supportive housing (PSH) improves housing stability for individuals emerging from homelessness, some residents see improvements in their mental health, while others do not. This study sought to understand how PSH characteristics can support or undermine a sense of ontological security: a sense of permanence, safety, and control within one’s material and social environments. Drawing on interviews with 30 residents residing across four PSH buildings in San Diego, California that varied in size, location, and populations served, this study discovered that, while the indefinite nature of PSH and communal spaces support ontological security, many residents find that their small and inaccessible apartments make it difficult to feel safe or in control of their lives. Furthermore, many residents expressed concerns over other residents and the perceived dangers of their surrounding neighbourhoods. This was especially true for senior residents in mixed-age buildings. Findings support policy recommendations including increasing the availability of seniors-only buildings and targeting zoning restrictions that limit building locations.