A Mixed Methods Study of Recently Homeless Youth Efforts to Sustain Housing and Stability

Abstract

This study examined the process of establishing post homeless lives among 51 recently homeless youth in two major urban centers in Canada. A mixed methods strategy was employed to characterize this process. Quantitatively, a range of mental health, community integration, and quality of life measures were employed four times over the course of 1 year to describe how these indicators of wellbeing shifted in this period. It was found that over the course of 1 year gains were not made in community integration, quality of life and mental health were highly variable, and hope declined significantly. Further, it was found that youth in supported housing arrangements experienced better mental health and community integration. Qualitatively, we identified three major stages in the process of exiting homelessness. These stages included a period of substantial fluctuation and instability, a period of gaining a basic level of stability but being demoralized due to difficulties making progress with life goals, and a period of making some gains with life goals which cultivated a sense of hope. Progress across these stages, which took place in a timeframe considerably longer than 1 year, was characterized by a range of setbacks, individual and systemic challenges, and trauma which were addressed through a persistent effort facilitated by youth resilience and key supports.

Evaluating the Effects of a Rent Subsidy and Mentoring Intervention for Youth Transitioning Out of Homelessness: Protocol for a Mixed Methods, Community-Based Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…The result is an underserved population, often experiencing severe and complex forms of mental illness and addictions, whose poor mental health begins to snowball as they confront homelessness. This often leads to further marginalization, unmet needs, and worsening mental health (Karabanow, 2004;Kidd et al, 2016).…”

“…For example, family interventions, when done thoughtfully, have been found to reduce addictions (Slesnick & Prestopnik, 2009). However, social support from other homeless youth can often represent a challenge -particularly in navigating pathways out of homelessness when such supports often have to be reconsidered and severed at times for the youth to move forward (Kidd et al, 2016). There is still work to be done to determine how youth can be best helped in efforts to optimize their support networks while homeless, and develop relationships that support them out of homelessness and into roles and activities in the broader community.…”

Reflecting on Participatory, Action‐Oriented Research Methods in Community Psychology: Progress, Problems, and Paths Forward

“…Our recent participatory work has grown out of a mixed‐methods study of youth exiting homelessness (Kidd et al., ,b). It is perhaps not surprising that our deepest dive into PAR grew out of our deepest dive into the lives of these young people.…”

“…Clinical trials in these areas have brought a focus to community‐oriented interventions in a manner not seen since the first wave of deinstitutionalization (Scull, ). What has become increasingly obscured, however, are the agendas, experiences, and actions of those directly affected by mental health challenges in this culture of randomized trials and expansive and uncritical use of the constructs of “community” and “recovery” as treatment and policy objectives (Kidd, McKenzie & Virdee, ; Kidd et al., ,b). In this context, participatory research approaches remain comparatively marginal although some promise can be seen in the modest but nonetheless noteworthy proliferation of specialist journals attending specifically to participatory designs (Journals for Participatory Research, ).…”

‘Conflict with the Law’: Regulation & Homeless Youth Trajectories toward Stability

“…Respondents talked about past and present charges, convictions and timelines in very incomplete ways. We cannot know whether they were processed under the Canadian Criminal Code To contextualize the subsequent discussion, it is worth noting some key findings about the factors that shaped the exiting process, but a more detailed analysis can be found in the work by Kidd et al (2016). First, stability is fragile.…”