Chapter 4: The (Un)Muted Voices of Middle Grades Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Homelessness is a well-documented social phenomenon in popular culture and the media and, when discussed, often conjures negative thoughts of those experiencing it. Youth homelessness, on the other hand, challenges these dominant societal narratives; yet individuals in positions of power rarely provide opportunities for students experiencing homelessness to share their voices. This qualitative research study utilized the participatory method of map-making to document the in-and-out of school experiences of one youth identified as experiencing homelessness. Analysis of participant created maps and semi-structured interview transcripts through a frame influenced by This We Believe (NMSA, 2010) revealed how the participant’s middle school both meets his needs and could better do so.