In summary, there are several interpersonal, social, familial, and structural factors which impacted on fathers’ experiences of being a parent when homelessness. Overall, the experience of separation had a range of effects for fathers who are homeless, such as a loss of identity as a father, feelings of shame, guilt, and self-blame, as well as feeling powerless and demoralised. Respondents also reported how homelessness had impacted their self-confidence, mental health, substance misuse or motivation to sustain recovery from past drugs and/or alcohol use.

In interviews, fathers reported how being separated from their children was a damaging and traumatic experience. This experience was routinely accompanied by feelings of shame and self-blame, and in many cases resulted in the intensification of destructive and negative coping mechanisms, such as alcoholism and substance use. The longer respondents were separated from their children, they experienced a loss of their sense of purpose, confidence in their ability to parent, and a widening disconnect from their children. This suggests that maintenance of parent-child relationships or provision of parenting supports may be a supportive and motivating factor for non-custodial fathers who are homeless.