Intergenerational Transmission of Housing Status and Emerging Adults' Perception of Available Resources

Background and Purpose: Despite the vast research on young adults in public housing, little is known about how to support emerging adults in their development of specific goals, specifically of their future. Particularly, what is not known is how the intergenerational transmission of housing status influences how emerging adults perceive resources available to them. While research has examined the cycle of poverty in public housing, it has yet to explore how previous generations influence the perception of the future. This qualitative phenomenological study attempts to recover some of the perceptions from emerging adults regarding their future. By identifying themes and factors that prevent upward social mobility, the findings from this study will attempt to contribute to developing policies that promote social mobility among public-housing residents. Conceptually, this study is framed by using social capital theory on the micro, mezzo and macro levels.

Methods: Eighteen in-depth, semi-structured interviews and two focus groups were conducted with emerging adults (ages 18 to 24) currently living in federal, city or state public housing in New York City, and who have multiple generations of family members in public housing. The sample is predominantly male (75% male; 25% female), African American/Black (78% African American/Black; Hispanic/Latino 32%), single (78%), and live in a household with a yearly income less than $34,999 (72%), and (94%) live in a public housing authority (PHAs).  Participants were recruited through Green City Force. Green City Force is an AmeriCorps program that engages young adults from low-income communities in national service related to the environment.

Findings: Data analysis reveals that emerging adults are optimistic about their future, even in the face of challenges they encounter each day as they transition into full adulthood. The data suggest that financial concerns are the most pressing issue for the participants. However, even in the face of poverty, participants utilize their families for financial support, but not social support. Findings indicate that emerging adults in public housing are less likely to trust their neighbors or service providers.  In the face of environmental stressors, emerging adults in public housing were more likely to self-medicate using marijuana and not seek help from mental health providers. They emphasize that marijuana helps them cope with external stressors. An overwhelming percentage of participants report wanting to become entrepreneurs and not work within institutions. Many of the participants report not wanting to be a part of institutions that discriminate against them.

Conclusion and Implications: Utilizing a bottom-up approach to policy implementation, findings highlight the importance of creating developmental specific programs and policies for emerging adults in public housing. Specifically, policies that increase social capital among the group, while targeting social problems that have the ability to interrupt the cycle of poverty. By providing support and education to emerging adults using a multigenerational lens, social policies challenge history using a holistic view that takes the immediate family into account.