From Instability to Recovery: Mapping Youth Housing Trajectories with Life History Calendar

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Sociology
• Public Health

Background:

• Youth homelessness is a significant issue with limited research on long-term housing pathways.
• Understanding the developmental trajectory of youth homelessness is crucial for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore developmental housing pathways of youth experiencing homelessness from childhood to emerging adulthood.
• To identify factors that shape recovery and promote stability.

Main Methods:

• Life-course lens and Life History Calendar interviews with eight youth (ages 21-26) in a cash-transfer program.
• Reflexive thematic analysis of transcripts and calendars, including within-case mapping and cross-case comparison.

Main Results:

• Eight themes identified developmental pathways into and out of homelessness, influenced by caregiving rupture, institutional displacement, and adversity.
• Adolescence involved survival-based autonomy and dual-purpose systems (support/surveillance).
• Emerging adulthood showed recovery through peer connections, affirming communities, and structured housing, anchored in belonging and meaning-making.

Conclusions:

• Youth homelessness is a developmental process influenced by trauma, inequity, and coping mechanisms.
• Interventions should reduce surveillance, expand affirming housing, and provide developmentally grounded support.
• Recovery is a collective process, not solely individual effort, emphasizing belonging and stability.