Personal profile
Presentation
Since 2009, I have been conducting research on social work and marginalized social people. My main area of interest is the everyday life of substance users and people living in homelessness, as well as their contact with welfare services. My research is primarily based on qualitative methods, including interviews, participant observation, and visual methods. I prioritize close collaboration with practice. My research is interdisciplinary drawing on sociology, political science, and social geography.
I have particularly focused on power, lived citizenship, socio-spatial exclusion, and spatial dimension of social work, which I have addressed in various research projects.
My Ph.D. dissertation, "Tørstige sjæle" is an ethnographic study of an inpatient alcohol treatment facility. I explored power, resistance, knowledge, and identity in this institutional setting. The Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) funded the Ph.D. project as a Ph.D. fellowship.
Since then, I have participated in several research projects. In these projects, I have researched street-based outreach work and its connection to lived citizenship for people living in homelessness, the everyday life of drug users in drug environments and their experiences with welfare services, and the impact of aging on drug users' daily lives and support needs.
Currently, I am working on a qualitative research project funded by Offerfonden that investigates the social dynamics around physical and sexual violence against women in marginalized drug environments, and the barriers that keep these women from reporting these crimes.
The project is carried out in partnership with Reden København, Sundhedsteamet in Copenhagen Municipality, the women's homeless hostel Bocentret at Sundholm, and the drug treatment center KABS. As part of the project, we conduct qualitative interviews with women who are active in drug environments, while staff from the participating organizations make written accounts of incidents where their women users have been subjected to violence or sexual assaults.
In addition to undertaking research projects, I am a member of the coordination group for UC Netværket for Udsatte Voksenområdet (UC-NUVO), and I have been appointed as a member of the editorial board of Socialvetenskapligt tidskrift for the 2025-2029 term.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD in Social Science, Roskilde University
2009 → 2013
Award Date: 1 Jan 2013
MSc Public Administration , Roskilde University
2002 → 2006
Award Date: 1 Jan 2006
BA Social Science , Roskilde University
1998 → 2001
Award Date: 1 Jan 2001
Certified Project Manager, Implement Consulting Group
… → 2009
Positions
Part-time Lecturer, Roskilde University
2012
Research Assistant, Roskilde University
2012 → 2013
PhD Fellow, Roskilde University
2009 → 2013
Civil servant, Socialforvaltningen, Københavns kommune
2006 → 2009
Keywords
- substance abusers
- homeless people
- social work and social conditions
- field work
- social exclusion
- socially endangered people
- socially endangered
- stigmatization
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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ÆRA: Udsatte ældre rusmiddelbrugeres adgang til social- og sundhedstilbud
Fahnøe, K. R. (Principle researcher) & Kronbæk, M. (Principle researcher)
01/04/26 → 31/12/27
Project: Research
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Kortlægning af fysiske volds- og seksualforbrydelser mod kvinder i marginaliserede stofmiljøer
Kronbæk, M. (Principle researcher), Fahnøe, K. R. (Principle researcher) & Christiansen, S. (Co-researcher)
02/04/24 → 31/03/27
Project: Research
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Ældre stofbrugeres hverdagsliv på herberg
Kronbæk, M. (Principle researcher) & Fahnøe, K. R. (Principle researcher)
01/08/22 → 31/12/24
Project: Research
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Vulnerable Youth in Changing Risk Environments: Figurations of Urban Youth Homelessness in Germany, Denmark and the UK
Fahnøe, K. R. (Co-researcher), Kronbæk, M. (Co-researcher), Roy, A. (Co-researcher) & Sowa, F. (Principle researcher)
01/05/21 → 31/12/22
Project: Research
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Konstruktive fællesskaber i stofmiljøer
Kronbæk, M. (Principle researcher), Kappel, N. (Principle researcher) & Fahnøe, K. R. (Co-researcher)
01/11/17 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
Research output
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Lektorer om ny reform: Kan man leve et værdigt liv uden retssikkerhed?
Kronbæk, M. & Fahnøe, K. R., 17 Feb 2026, Monitormedier.Research output: Other contribution › Contribution to digital media
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Ældre stofbrugere lider under fysiske traumer fra et liv i stofmiljøer
Kronbæk, M. & Fahnøe, K. R., 2025, In: STOF: tidsskrift for stofmisbrugsområdet. 49, p. 14-19 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Communication
Open Access -
A Strait or an Ocean? Exploring Risks and Resources among People who use Drugs in Denmark and Sweden
Houborg, E., Richert, T., Nordgren, J., Fahnøe, K. R., Kronbæk, M., Kappel, N. & Johansen, K. S., Dec 2025, In: NAD Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 42, 5-6, p. 370-387 18 p., 14550725251380179.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Barriers to psychiatric treatment for the comorbid mental health problems of marginalized people who use drugs: Perceptions of frontline staff in low-threshold facilities
Johansen, K. S., Fahnøe, K. R., Kronbæk, M., Kappel, N. & Houborg, E., 3 Nov 2025, In: Advances in Dual Diagnosis. 18, 4, p. 169-180 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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Borgeren ved roret: Recovery-orienteret rehabilitering på voksen udsatteområdet
Fahnøe, K. R. (Developer), West, K. (Guest) & Retsbo, M. C. (Sound), 2025Research output: Non-textual form › Podcast, music and sound productions › Communication
Prizes
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Indstillet af Roskilde Universitet Ph.d.-Cup, 2014
Fahnøe, K. (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Other distinction
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Activities
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Afrapportering af delresultater til hjemløseenheden
Fahnøe, K. (Introductory speaker)
22 Aug 2016Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture or presentation
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Alderssvækkede stofbrugere på herberg
Fahnøe, K. R. (Introductory speaker) & Kronbæk, M. (Introductory speaker)
12 Feb 2026Activity: Talk or presentation types › Lecture or presentation
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Antropologi (Journal)
Fahnøe, K. (Referee)
2015 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Reviewer/editor of journal
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British Journal of Sociology (Journal)
Fahnøe, K. (Referee)
2015 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Reviewer/editor of journal
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Current Sociology (Journal)
Fahnøe, K. R. (Referee)
2018 → …Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work types › Reviewer/editor of journal
Press/Media
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Eldre og rus: Mottar ikke tilbud som de har rett på
21/02/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Flere ældre ender i hjemløshed: »De er blevet kørt ud på et sidespor«
05/02/25
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Opråb: Der er brug for boformer, der kan rumme udsatte ældre
07/01/25 → 08/01/25
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Forsidehenvisning: Kirkens Korshær: Opret plejehjem for de mest udsatte borgere
06/01/25 → 07/01/25
2 items of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media