Malcolm Disbrowe
An intersectional analysis of Indigenous youths’ experiences in housing systems
Housing systems can be difficult to navigate when institutional practices, public policies and interpersonal encounters create barriers to finding and keeping stable housing. Malcolm’s project focuses on how Indigenous youth in Winnipeg experience those barriers, as well as the forms of advocacy, flexible assistance and culturally safe support they find useful.
The study considers how these experiences may differ across intersecting identities and circumstances, including distinctions-based Indigenous identity, gender, 2SLGBTQIA+ identity, disability and transitions out of care.
Approach and methodology
The research will undertake a community-engaged, intersectional qualitative analysis of existing interviews with Indigenous youth who participated in Zoongizi Ode’s Housing Solutions Lab Study.
Guided by Indigenous Ways of Knowing, reflexive thematic analysis will be undertaken in collaboration with Zoongizi Ode, an Indigenous youth advisory committee and an Indigenous Elder to interpret and validate themes and co-develop recommendations.
Expected contribution
The project aims to inform housing policy, programs and front-line practices that respond more effectively to Indigenous young people’s experiences. Its intended contribution is stronger evidence for equitable, culturally safe and community-responsive approaches to housing stability.
About the researcher
Malcolm Disbrowe is an Anisininew, Cree and Métis scholar-advocate from Barren Lands First Nation in northern Manitoba, on Treaty 10 Territory. He is a master’s student in the College of Community and Global Health at the University of Manitoba.
His work draws on Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Indigenous research methods to examine complex social and population-health issues. His wider research interests include substance use-related mortality and challenging misconceptions about harm reduction.
