Social exclusion and survival for families facing homelessness in rural New England

Homelessness in rural communities remains largely hidden. This article draws on ethnographic data to examine the hidden lives of families facing homelessness and its aftermath in rural New England. Our findings highlight how lived experiences of extreme poverty are shaped by the cultural values in this rural setting. We argue that social exclusion is a defining feature of the lived experience of homelessness in this setting in which individualism and self-sufficiency are core cultural values. While certain practice and policy strategies may apply broadly to impoverished families (e.g. affordable housing, service coordination, vocational support), we propose that efforts to support families should be grounded in, and tailored to, the specific setting and cultural values of rural communities.