Performative gratitude: A barrier to understanding the needs of older immigrants experiencing homelessness in Canada

Walsh, C. A., Kusari, K., Mahmood, A., Sussman, T., & Canham, S. L. (2026, June). Performative gratitude: A barrier to understanding the needs of older immigrants experiencing homelessness in Canada [paper presentation]. The Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development, Nairobi, KE. June 26-29, 2026.

Abstract

Houselessness among older adults (50+) in Canada is growing due to a rapidly aging population and a lack of affordable housing. Recognizing this, critical gerontologists emphasize the importance of intersectional examinations of older people experiencing houselessness (OPEH). Specifically, little to no research to date has examined factors impacting the well-being of OPEH, who are also immigrants to Canada. As ageism, settlement challenges, and racism/xenophobia intersect to impact the experiences of this population, it is important to critically engage with this intersection. Thus, we designed a cross-Canada community-based participatory study of homelessness and housing insecurity in later life which aimed to engage older adults with lived experiences of housing insecurity. In this presentation we focus on insights gained from qualitative photovoice interviews with 22 immigrant OPEH living in homeless shelters in Vancouver, Calgary, and Montreal. Our study identifies three core themes: delivery of care and its reception by older migrants, the role of comparison in shaping perceptions of shelter/housing programs, and performative gratitude. While participants often expressed deep appreciation for housing provisions, this gratitude was shaped by past trauma, social norms, and the structural silencing of critique. Study findings reveal how expressions of thankfulness may serve as both a survival strategy and a barrier to service improvement, masking unmet needs and reinforcing systemic marginalization. In this presentation, we interpret these dynamics through a postcolonial lens and call for a reconceptualization of housing support systems—from sites of charity to spaces of rights-based, culturally responsive, and participatory care. The proposed presentation concludes with practical and policy recommendations to support more equitable housing solutions for immigrant elders.