Understanding Strengths and Protective Factors of Previously Houseless Native Hawaiian and Micronesian Families

Background: Limited literature exists looking at resiliency amongst houseless families, specifically Native Hawaiian and Micronesian families. This study offers a new look into the strengths these families have used to deal with the hardships of being without stable housing. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders comprise of over 20% of the houseless population on Oʻahu. Additionally, there are almost 460 houseless families. Historically, Native Hawaiian families suffered historical trauma and now are facing the trauma associated with being houseless (Kahoʻolemana, Paglinawan, & Paglinawan, 2014). Populations from Micronesia are struggling to maintain their cultural identity in a new location (Howard & Kreif, 2014) and are also facing houselessness at high rates. Children and families who experience unstable housing are an especially at-risk population (Tobin & Murphy, 2013). There is concern for the the impact on emotional and psychological health of the family, for physical health of the family members, and concern for both educational and developmental delays of children (Tobin & Murphy, 2013). Furthermore, there are concerns regarding a greater exposure to trauma (Kilmer et al., 2012). Applying a family resiliency approach to interventions builds upon internal and external strengths and protective factors thereby reducing challenges and adversities to allow families to emerge stronger (Walsh, 2002).

Methods: Cultural tailoring was considered in the methodological approach for this study. There was consideration of surface and deep structures of culture of the identified population when creating the research design and potential interventions from the findings (Mokuau, Braun, & Daniggelis, 2012). Allowing families to talk story, to tell their own narrative, honors the culture of Native Hawaiian and Micronesian families. Focusing on strengths avoids re-traumatizing this population and allows for a sense of de-stigmatization. Using a qualitative approach, this study measured family’s challenges, strengths, and protective factors through narrative interviews of Native Hawaiian and Micronesian families. An interview guide, using the narrative approach, allowed participants to talk story, to provide their reflections and interpretations of their challenges as well as the strengths and protective factors.

Results: We conducted 4 in-depth interviews with families. All interviews were very rich in detail and generally followed our hypothesized theoretical framework. We found that the families in the study were able to cope with traumatic situations, challenges, and risks using identified protective factors. We outlined the specific protective factors including insight, commitment, and social support among others. Families who were houseless were stigmatized and faced with an abundance of challenges. Gaining a strengths-based understanding of how these families utilized protective factors to overcome the trauma and challenges of being houseless can guide social work interventions, policy, practice and future research specific to this population and ultimately improve outcomes for stable housing.

Conclusions and Implications: This study used a strength-based approach to understand how formerly houseless Native Hawaiian and Micronesian families demonstrated a sense of resiliency. Through this study, gaps in resources and challenges unique to these populations were identified as well as building an understanding of how families maintain a sense of resiliency.