Perceptions of Barriers to and Supports for Exiting Homelessness Among Homeless Young Adults

Background: One popular view of youth homelessness suggests that it constitutes a lifestyle choice. Although intrapersonal characteristics and choices motivate some young people’s homeless episodes, most homeless young people face considerable barriers to exiting homelessness related to systems and institutions and their homelessness experiences. Yet to date, little is known about how homeless young people describe the interrelatedness of these barriers and the supports they find helpful in exiting homelessness. As such, it is important for researchers, service providers, and policymakers to understand both the interrelated barriers and helpful supports so as to prevent (and intervene early in) young people’s homelessness episodes. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore homeless young adults’ perceptions of the barriers they encounter and supports they use in trying to exit homelessness.

Methods: From August-October 2016, researchers used purposive sampling to recruit 31 homeless young adults (ages 18-26) for in-depth interviews from two resource centers at one agency serving homeless youth in Phoenix, Arizona. Interview questions covered eight broad topics related to risk and resilience characteristics including barriers to and supports for stable housing. The interview took 30-60 minutes and participants were compensated with a $10 gift card. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Researchers used template analysis by first developing a priori the initial template using concepts from the risk and resilience framework and the interview guide. Researchers then reviewed all transcripts using the initial coding template and identified higher- and lower-order codes and emergent themes, which were illustrated with quotations.

Results: With respect to barriers to exiting homelessness, three higher-order codes emerged: systemic, situational, and intrapersonal factors. Young adults noted systemic factors most frequently, including lack of employment, housing, and transportation. Situational factors related to their homeless experience included financial insecurity, lack of professional attire, and victimization. Regarding intrapersonal factors, young adults noted substance abuse, health and mental health challenges, prior incarceration, and lifestyle choices. Young adults’ testimonies most often illustrated the interconnectedness of two and even three of the higher-order factors, such as having a criminal background and thus being unable to find a job or secure housing, which led to using survival skills to earn money and ultimately, exploitation by others. Regarding helpful supports to confront these barriers, the young adults identified combinations of informal (family, partners, friends) and formal (service providers, clergy, teachers) supports, noting that formal supports were most helpful in addressing systemic factors (employment and housing).

Conclusions: The findings highlight the interrelatedness of micro-mezzo-macro barriers to exiting homelessness and the informal-formal supports on which young people rely to overcome their daily challenges. Our findings point to the need for goal planning efforts with homeless young adults that address intrapersonal, situational, and systemic factors. By integrating harm-reduction and clinical services into employment and housing programs, homeless young people can concurrently address the intrapersonal barriers that affect their success in exiting homelessness. Similarly, by engaging in political advocacy, service providers and clients together can address the systemic factors that underlie and perpetuate many homeless young adults’ daily struggles.