| Abstrakt: |
ABSTRACTThis article reports the housing pathways of unaccompanied minors and refugee children (hereafter ‘UM’) in Finland. Of special interest are possible experiences of UM of not belonging as part of the relocations they have faced, and whether UM’s descriptions of their housing pathways include experiences of belonging and a sense of home that could be thought to assist with coping. The data consists of qualitative interviews with UM. As a result, for most of them, changes of residence were moderate in number and some of them had no memories of having moved. Some, however, had been relocated frequently. Nevertheless, the meanings attributed by the UM to their housing locations were similar in nature. The most painful experiences of not belonging were particularly associated with the arrival in Finland. The issue of home was ambivalent and had multiple meanings in the course of the housing pathways of the UM. UM highlighted many factors – such as an ordered everyday life – which a receiving country may use to help them in recovering a sense of place, belonging and future safety. Listening UM’s experiences offers a number of implications both for the practical work of helping them and the arrangements of the reception and care. |
