Introducing Our New AIRP Co-Investigator, Dr. Kaltrina Kusari
By Dr. Kaltrina Kusari and Joe Humphries
Core to the AIRP-VABE Partnership’s work is its commitment to training the next generation of housing researchers. Among the Partnership’s former trainees is Dr. Kaltrina Kusari, AIRP-VABE’s newest co-investigator. Dr. Kusari tells us about her journey from trainee to co-investigator, and her hopes for her new role.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and the journey that originally brought you to the AIRP-VABE Partnership.
A pivotal moment that has shaped both my identity and academic trajectory was the 1999 war in Kosova. My family was persecuted by the Serbian regime simply because we were Albanian, and the war marked my first experience of forced displacement. Since then, migration has remained a defining aspect of my life. Shortly after the war, I received a high school scholarship that brought me to Arizona, USA. I later pursued my undergraduate studies in British Columbia, and completed both my MSW and PhD in Social Work at the University of Calgary in Alberta.
My personal experiences of displacement and migration deeply inform my academic work. Both my MSW and PhD research focused on the experiences of refugees and return migrants—particularly those whose asylum claims were rejected. I was especially interested in how transnational identities and histories shape the often-complex processes of repatriation.
In addition to my own research, which largely centers on the displacement experiences of Kosovars, I have contributed to several projects examining the resettlement journeys of refugees and immigrants in Canada. These projects explored critical issues such as issues of belonging, economic insecurity, and access to services. Through this work, I became increasingly aware of how multiple, intersecting factors—such as gender, age, migration status, socio-economic position, and housing—affect resettlement in a new country.
This intersectional lens is what drew me to the AIRP-VABE Partnership. I was especially interested in what the Partnership's research on housing among older adults could reveal about how age and migration status interact to shape housing experiences. I see this work as an important contribution to more inclusive, equitable approaches to housing and resettlement policy.
What did your research focus on during your time as a post-doctoral fellow with the AIRP-VABE Partnership?
During my time as a post-doctoral fellow with the AIRP-VABE Partnership, my research focused on applying critical theoretical frameworks—particularly postcolonial and transnational feminist theories—to analyze qualitative data collected across the three participating cities. I explored how migration status intersects with other structural factors to shape the experiences of older adults facing homelessness. My work aimed to unpack the systemic and historical forces that render certain older migrants more vulnerable to housing insecurity, and to highlight the ways in which their experiences are often shaped by broader dynamics of exclusion, inequality, and marginalization. In June, 2025, I presented findings from my analysis at the Our Future is Aging conference, where I had a chance to engage in discussions with other scholars and service providers who have already recognized the need for targeted programs for those who experience housing insecurity and arrived in Canada as migrants.
What was the most valuable thing you learned from your time as a doctoral research assistant on the AIRP-VABE Partnership?
One of the most valuable aspects of my time as a doctoral research assistant on the AIRP-VABE Partnership was the opportunity to collaborate across multiple cities and with a diverse team of researchers, practitioners, and community partners. Engaging in a national, multi-site study allowed me to appreciate both the commonalities and the unique challenges faced by older adults experiencing homelessness in different urban contexts across Canada.
Through regular collaborative analysis sessions, and shared knowledge mobilization efforts, I learned how to navigate complex research partnerships and contribute meaningfully to a collective vision while remaining attuned to local specificities. This experience deepened my understanding of how interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration can enrich the research process, generate more comprehensive insights, and strengthen the relevance and applicability of findings. I also gained a deeper appreciation for the value of multiple perspectives—academic, experiential, and community-based—in shaping research that is both rigorous and responsive to real-world issues.
What will your research within the AIRP-VABE Partnership focus on going forward?
As I continue my involvement with the AIRP-VABE Partnership, one of my key goals is to publish findings that have emerged from my analysis of how aging and migration intersect in the context of housing insecurity. In this next phase, I also hope to engage more closely with the data collected from service providers. Their frontline perspectives offer invaluable insights into the systemic barriers older adults face, as well as the challenges providers encounter in delivering care. By centering their voices, I aim to better understand how we can support service providers—through training, structural reforms, and improved resources—so they are better equipped to respond to the complex needs of aging populations at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
How has your experience of transitioning to a new role within the Partnership been so far?
Transitioning into the role of co-investigator within the Partnership has been both exciting and encouraging. While I’m still early in this new phase, I already feel welcomed and supported by the existing team of co-investigators. Our recent discussions have been thoughtful and forward-looking, and I’ve appreciated the opportunity to contribute to early conversations about how our collaboration will evolve.
What are you looking forward to as you take on your new role as a co-investigator?
As I step into the role of co-investigator, I look forward to learning from colleagues who have been part of the Partnership since its early stages. Their deep knowledge of the project and its evolution offers valuable insights that will help guide and strengthen my contributions as a new co-investigator. I hope to contribute my expertise in migration and gender to enrich ongoing discussions about how our research can inform more inclusive and responsive housing policies and practices. These dimensions are often overlooked in housing systems, yet they critically shape the experiences of older adults who are homeless or precariously housed. I see this as an opportunity to help foreground the voices and needs of those whose experiences are shaped by complex intersections of identity and structural exclusion.
Just as importantly, I’m also excited to integrate the insights gained through the AIRP-VABE Partnership into my teaching at the University “Fehmi Agani” in Gjakova. This collaboration allows me to bring a transnational and critical lens to social work education in Kosovo, fostering dialogue about global social justice issues and their local implications.