Community and Housing First: A qualitative analysis of USA residents' perspectives

Abstract

Plymouth Housing is a Housing First organisation in Seattle, WA (USA) that provides far more than housing for its residents-staff are equally concerned with building community and creating a sense of belonging. The objective of this study was to interview residents about their experiences of community and collect their suggestions for improving community, building efforts within this organisation. This exploratory qualitative study was conducted across eight buildings and included 38 participants from November 2018 to February 2019. Data were collected by the researchers in the form of focus groups and individual interviews, utilising a semi-structured interview protocol. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Themes were identified by each researcher separately and then cross referenced for validity using direct quotes from participants. Five main themes emerged from the data: 'really good community here'; mutual support and care; interpersonal connections; gatherings and events; lack of community. This study demonstrates that regularly held events and activities help to build community, create a sense of stability and increase familiarity and trust amongst residents. An implication of this study is the importance of actively soliciting residents' input to guide community building efforts. This is a small-scale exploratory study and although the findings are applicable to the participants' experiences, further research is needed to build on these findings in other parts of the USA as well as internationally. K E Y W O R D S community, empowerment, Housing First, qualitative research, resident perspectives, thematic analysis, United States | 1293 ADAME Et Al.

Permanent Supportive Housing Design Characteristics Associated with the Mental Health of Formerly Homeless Adults in the U.S. and Canada: An Integrative Review

“…One additional qualitative study was classified in a fourth relevance category, “mentions.” The study qualitatively explored associations between events, residents, staff, and neighbor interactions, and community interaction. Participant responses contained relevant built environment factors aligned with review aims [ 83 ].…”

“…PSH provided residents with a private space that allowed them to decide or control whether and how to engage with others [ 80 , 81 ] and determine who they permitted to enter their space [ 79 ]. A sense of home was also associated with having regular opportunities for social contact [ 83 ], a place to carry out daily routines [ 86 ], and “regular stuff” such as furniture, a microwave and dishwasher, air conditioning, a computer, and cable TV that made a house comfortable and feel like home [ 79 ]. Residents in Huffman’s study stated that being able to grow a garden made a place feel like home and not Skid Row [ 26 ].…”

“…Three studies [ 26 , 27 , 83 ] emphasized associations between safety and components of trauma-sensitive or trauma-informed design, including residential rather than institutional aesthetics, décor, hominess, natural light and views of nature, personalization, cleanliness, acoustics, and a welcoming yet secure lobby. In Padgett’s [ 82 ] study, homeless women, who experience higher rates of sexual and physical assault compared to homeless men [ 82 ], particularly expressed a need for the protective benefits of having their own apartment and “safe harbor.” Participants in Adame and colleagues’ [ 83 ] work described a desire for solitude, quiet and control, describing their apartments as a sanctuary from the outside world. Thus, residents reported that the built environment provided a safe haven across spatial scales including individual dwellings and the building within its surrounding location.…”

“…That policy, however, led to less use of shared spaces, residents feeling disempowered, and reduced opportunities for self-governance, interaction, and collaboration on shared goals [ 27 ]. Adame and colleagues [ 83 ] recognized the trauma of homelessness and pointed out that, for some PSH residents, the “ hypervigilance required for surviving life on the streets is hard to let go of, even when people have safe and secure housing situations ” (p. 1298); this hypervigilance led to residents avoiding common areas and retreating to individual dwellings. Hsu [ 73 ] found that social and physical disorder perceived by PSH residents in their neighborhood environment, which can be the same neighborhood in which they were homeless, can trigger memories of past victimization and traumatic experiences.…”

“…In addition to individual recovery and skill building, single-site PSH models focus on assisting residents with building socially supportive relationships and integrating with other PSH residents and the surrounding community [ 18 ]. Adame and colleagues [ 83 ] found that mutual support, care, feeling comfortable in shared spaces, and respecting each other’s possessions and boundaries was necessary to care for and share common space with others. PSH can facilitate community via careful balance of the privacy afforded by dwelling units and the social interaction encouraged by shared common areas [ 27 , 71 ].…”