TRABALHAR NA MARGEM: ATIVIDADES INFORMAIS DE UTILIZADORES DE DROGAS EM SITUAÇÃO DE SEM ABRIGO

Abstract

Work has occupied a central role in the organisation of modern societies since the Industrial Revolution, transcending its strictly economic dimension and becoming a mechanism for social integration, recognition and identity formation. For people experiencing homelessness and with histories of substance use, forms of participation in the labour market tend to diverge from conventional models, taking on diverse forms, often marked by precariousness. These forms of work, referred to here as informal work, are frequently devalued and delegitimised, contributing to the invisibility and marginalisation of those involved. Nevertheless, informal work plays a structuring role in the everyday lives of these individuals, organising dimensions such as the use of time and social relations. Simultaneously, it enables the construction of a sense of social usefulness and belonging, challenging dominant conceptions that associate this population with idleness. Adopting a qualitative methodology, four semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals experiencing homelessness and substance users, prioritising the diversity of the activities developed and the experiences associated with them. The present study sought to explore the occupations and forms of work undertaken by this population, examining their role in everyday life, the meanings attributed, and their articulation with the paths of consumption. The aim was to understand how these occupations contribute to the construction of work-related identities, as well as to access participants' own representations and interpretations. In addition, the everyday dynamics that frame these practices were analysed through aspects such as peer relationships and the forms of social recognition that emerge from them.