PENEROKAAN IMPAK KEMISKINAN DAN DAYA KETAHANANGELANDANGAN BEKAS BANDUAN DALAM MENGHADAPI KEHIDUPAN JALANAN MENURUT PERSPEKTIF RUTTER DAN LUTHAR

Abstract

The homeless lives of ex-prisoners are often squeezed by poverty due to living conditions without a permanent job, lack of legitimate income and homeless life. In the face of very stressful economic problems, they continue to live on the streets. This state of poverty has led to a study on the impact of poverty and the formation of resilience among homeless ex-prisoners throughout the face of street life. The present study uses a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth interviews among 15 homeless ex-prisoners. The findings show that poverty has a significant impact in the life journey of homeless ex-prisoners. Seven themes are extracted in relation to the impact of poverty. These are lack of legitimate income, homelessness, societal discrimination, frequent confrontation with law enforcement due to living on the streets, lack of opportunity to get out of the c poverty, loss of trust and inferiority and tendency to engage in anti-social behaviour as a short-cut. In addition, the impacts of poverty caused these informants to form their own resilience such as self-adjustment, overcoming (as a form of coping strategy) difficult life experiences, avoidance from society and taking advantage of existing advantages. This study is based on two theories of resilience proposed by Michael Rutter and Suniya Luther. The findings contribute significantly to the body of knowledge by providing an overview of the homelessness of ex-prisoners. The overall findings support the ideas that underpin these two theories. Homeless ex-prisoners tend to build resilience as an adaptation to poverty and difficult life experiences.