Evaluation of Threshold: an independent living program for homeless adolescents

The Threshold Project, a residential treatment program, was designed to work with homeless and alienated young women who were approaching 18 years of age but lacked the skills, values, and attitudes necessary to care for themselves and assume the responsibilities of adulthood. Project services were designed to prepare these young women for independent living and to break the intergenerational cycle of abuse and neglect experienced by this population. Threshold offered a series of progressively more independent living experiences to young homeless women ages 16-18 years, who had been sexually/physically/emotionally abused or neglected, and who had been involved in or at high risk for prostitution. A majority of the clients responded well to the requirements of the program, including the expectation that they maintain employment and participate in educational programs during the semi-independent living phase of the project. A follow-up assessment undertaken after clients left the project found that 42% of the young women met all "success" criteria, that is, they lived independently (or in stable situations), attended school and/or were employed, had not engaged in prostitution or other offense behavior, and did not abuse alcohol or other substances.