Nesėkminga imigracija : lietuvių, tapusių benamiais Londone, gyvenimo ypatumai

Abstract

Using the data of a pilot study, this article deals with unsuccessful cases of Lithuanian immigration, i.e., lifestyle peculiarities of Lithuanians who became homeless in the capital of Great Britain. While analyzing the phenomenon in a descriptive manner, the authors sought an answer the question of why Lithuanian emigrants who had family and work in their homeland became homeless after they had come to search for a better life. The issues of homeless Lithuanians‘ daily life and life principles in the streets of London; their plans about coming back to their country; as well as the question of their identification with the status of the homeless, are addressed. A qualitative data analysis confirmed the assumptions of Edgar, Doherty, and Meert that immigrants are a vulnerable social class at risk of becoming homeless due to the complicated process of immigration. Differences in language and systems of social help and the lack of a social help network (relatives and friends) were the factors that had substantially conditioned Lithuanian immigrants‘ becoming homeless. The study revealed that multiple factors of Lithuanians‘ becoming homeless determine their homeless lifestyle in the streets of London. It is relevant that in critical situations, homeless Lithuanians sought solutions through alcohol consumption: some to escape the troubles of immigration, others to find common solutions together with people of similar destiny.