Housing Assistance Research Articles

Implementation of the Swadaya Housing Stimulant Assistance Program for Low-Income Communities in Rana Masak Village, Borong District

This thesis is entitled implementation of a self-help housing stimulant assistance program for low-income communities in Rana Masak village, Borong sub-district. Housing assistance is a policy in overcoming the problem of poverty, especially in resolving the problem of providing housing for people who have houses that are uninhabitable. As a responsibility of the government, regulations have been issued relating to the fulfillment of housing, namely Swadaya housing stimulant assistance (BSPS). This research uses qualitative methods with qualitative descriptive analysis. As with qualitative methods, researchers will analyze using field research, namely researchers conducting interviews, observations and documentation related to the implementation of this housing assistance program. This research was carried out in order to determine whether the implementation of this housing program was going well or not. This research was carried out in Rana Masak village, Borong sub-district because one of the villages that received housing assistance was Rana Masak village. Based on four aspects in determining the success of implementing a policy, namely communication, resources, disposition and bureaucratic structure, there are still deficiencies and obstacles faced, in this case the insufficient housing assistance budget. This is indicated by the construction of houses in Rana Masak Village where there are still people who are categorized as uninhabitable houses and there is a lack of budget in the construction process as a result of which the community does not receive aid evenly

Predatory Helpfulness: An Empirical Framework to Identify Fraudulent Tactics Used by Pimps to Recruit and Commercially Sexually Exploit Young Girls and Women

ABSTRACT Understanding how traffickers entrap and exploit young girls and women has become crucial to correctly identifying sex trafficking. Research shows that pimps use recruitment techniques of seduction, housing assistance, drugs, and emotional support as well as physical violence, debt bondage, and psychological manipulation to entrap women into commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). This pilot study posits that these seemingly dichotomous methods represent two temporal occurrences; pimps use superficially positive offers to lure young girls and women into a relationship via grooming tactics, then shift the relationship into a sexually exploitive one via recruitment tactics. This study aimed to explore this temporal sequence a two-prong process termed “predatory helpfulness.” Data for this preliminary study examined coercive control tactics, and trauma-coerced attachment in sex trafficking survivors. Participants (N = 19) were all women who had previously been pimp trafficked. Study findings strongly supported the predatory helpfulness model; 18 of the 19 participants felt their initial relationships with their pimps were positive and helpful, and 17 of the 19 participants were able to identify a distinct relational shift between this grooming stage and the recruitment stage, where CSE began. These findings help identify undetected coercive behaviors on the part of the pimp and inform criminal justice interventions and policy. Furthermore, understanding predatory helpfulness will shift the focus to the perpetrators’ behaviors, moving us toward a community that embraces and supports the victims impacted by CSE. A 12 Question Predatory Helpfulness Screener is proposed as a tool for legal actors and providers.

Temporary Financial Assistance for Housing Expenditures and Mortality and Suicide Outcomes Among US Veterans.

It is unclear whether interventions designed to increase housing stability can also lead to improved health outcomes such as reduced risk of death and suicide morbidity. The objective of this study was to estimate the potential impact of temporary financial assistance (TFA) for housing-related expenses from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on health outcomes including all-cause mortality, suicide attempt, and suicidal ideation. We conducted a retrospective national cohort study of Veterans who entered the VA Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program between 10/2015 and 9/2018. We assessed the association between TFA and health outcomes using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression approach with inverse probability of treatment weighting. We conducted these analyses on our overall cohort as well as separately for those in the rapid re-housing (RRH) and homelessness prevention (HP) components of SSVF. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, suicide attempt, and suicidal ideation at 365 and 730days following enrollment in SSVF. Our analysis cohort consisted of 41,969 unique Veterans with a mean (SD) duration of 87.6 (57.4) days in the SSVF program. At 365days following SSVF enrollment, TFA was associated with a decrease in the risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.696, p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (HR: 0.788, p < 0.001). We found similar results at 730days (HR: 0.811, p = 0.007 for all-cause mortality and HR: 0.881, p = 0.037 for suicidal ideation). These results were driven primarily by individuals enrolled in the RRH component of SSVF. We found no association between TFA and suicide attempts. We find that providing housing-related financial assistance to individuals facing housing instability is associated with improvements in important health outcomes such as all-cause mortality and suicidal ideation. If causal, these results suggest that programs to provide housing assistance have positive spillover effects into other important aspects of individuals' lives.

The long-term impact of humanitarian housing interventions following the 2010 Merapi eruption

There is strong evidence of the short-term impact of humanitarian interventions after disasters, however, relatively less is known about what, if any, impact this support has on long-term recovery outcomes in communities. This research examined long-term housing outcomes following assistance provided after the 2010 Merapi eruption in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. We surveyed 316 households who received and did not receive housing assistance following damaging lahar flows in the community of Jogoyudan to assess housing quality through a multi-dimensional measure. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression was used to evaluate the relationship of humanitarian assistance on housing quality outcomes, controlling for respondent and household demographics as well as the impacts of the disaster. Findings indicate that post-disaster housing assistance was positively correlated with higher long-term housing quality. Land tenure was found to be the strongest predictor of housing quality, explaining nearly a fifth of variance in housing quality. Livelihoods and construction abilities were also found to be significant predictors of long-term housing quality. Our results demonstrate the value of post-disaster housing programs in raising the living standard of recovering communities and the institutional, economic, and knowledge systems that support housing markets.

An Exploration of the Social Support of Women in Sex Work in Cúcuta, Colombia

Social support for women in sex work is essential for their overall health and well-being. In the city of Cúcuta, Colombia, both domestic Colombian and migrant Venezuelan women utilize the sex industry to obtain an income. However, with limited resources in this area and little prior research about the current supports, this study explores the social support accessed and received, the social support desired, and identifies the formal social support available to women in sex work in Cúcuta, Colombia. To conduct this research, 28 interviews were conducted: 10 with Colombian women in sex work, 12 with Venezuelan women in sex work, and 6 with professionals representing various social service organizations. Findings indicated that most of the women relied on informal support, yet many women also expressed a desire for formal social support services, specifically related to health care, food, and housing assistance. Nonetheless, gaps persist in the availability of desired formal services This research demonstrates the importance of service providers working with women in sex work directly to understand their lived experiences, while also demonstrating self-determination and empowerment. Further research is needed to measure the implementation efficacy of formal services and the barriers to access for women in sex work.

Health and employment among young adults receiving federal housing assistance

ABSTRACT Since the 1980s, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has implemented various “self-sufficiency” demonstrations aimed at supporting employment among federal housing assistance clients. A concern associated with these demonstrations is that adults in poor health will be either excluded from these programs or penalized for not meeting program directives to obtain employment. This concern speaks to the ongoing debate about the importance of work barriers—such as poor health—compared to programmatic work disincentives—such as basing rents on income—in shaping the employment outcomes of HUD clients. We advance this debate through a detailed analysis of the relationship between specific health conditions and employment among a sample of young adult HUD clients. Using a novel dataset and quasi-experimental research design, we find that depression, anxiety, hypertension, and diabetes are prevalent conditions among our sample of HUD clients. We further find that depression and hypertension are significant predictors of non-employment, though depression is only significant among HUD clients and not the entire matched sample. We find no evidence that HUD assistance creates a work disincentive. Our results therefore support the narrative that work barriers such as poor health may create a barrier to employment for HUD clients, many of whom may require specialized health and supportive services to obtain employment.

Current Practices in Operationalizing and Addressing Racial Equity in the Provision of Type 1 Diabetes Care: Insights from the Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative Health Equity Advancement Lab

ObjectiveMedical racism contributes to adverse health outcomes. Type 1 Diabetes Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) is a large population-based cohort engaged in data sharing and quality improvement to drive system changes in T1D care. The annual T1DX-QI survey included questions to evaluate racial equity in diabetes care and practices to promote equity. MethodsThe annual T1DX-QI survey was administered to participating clinics in fall 2022 and had a 93% response rate. There were 50 responses (pediatric: 66% and adult: 34%). Questions, in part, evaluated clinical resources and racial equity. Response data were aggregated, summarized, and stratified by pediatric/adult institutions. ResultsOnly 21% pediatric and 35% adult institutions felt that all their team members can articulate how medical racism contributes to adverse diabetes outcomes. Pediatric institutions reported more strategies to address medical racism than adult (3.6 vs 3.1). Organizational strategies to decrease racial discrimination included employee trainings, equity offices/committees, patient resources, and hiring practices. Patient resources included interpreter services, transportation, insurance navigation, and housing and food assistance. Hiring practices included changing prior protocols, hiring from the community, and diversifying workforces. Most institutions have offered antiracism training in the last year (pediatric: 85% and adult: 72%) and annually (pediatric: 64% and adult: 56%). Pediatric teams felt that their antiracism training was effective more often (pediatric: 60% and adult: 45%) and more commonly, they were provided resources (pediatric: 67% and adult: 47%) to help address inequities. ConclusionDespite increased antiracism training, insufficient institutional support and perceived subeffective training still represent obstacles, especially in adult institutions. Sharing effective strategies to address medical racism will help institutions take steps to mitigate inequities.

Rent affordability after hurricanes: Longitudinal evidence from US coastal states.

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of natural hazards such as hurricanes. With a severe shortage of affordable housing in the United States, renters may be uniquely vulnerable to disaster-related housing disruptions due to increased hazard exposure, physical vulnerability of structures, and socioeconomic disadvantage. In this work, we construct a panel dataset consisting of housing, socioeconomic, and hurricane disaster data from counties in 19 states across the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States from 2009 to 2018 to investigate how the frequency and intensity of a hurricane correspond to changes in median rent and housing affordability (the interaction between rent prices and income) over time. Using a two-stage least square random-effects regression model, we find that more intense prior-year hurricanes correspond to increases in median rents via declines in housing availability. The relationship between hurricanes and rent affordability is more complex, though the occurrence of a hurricane in a given year or the previous year reduces affordable rental housing, especially for counties with higher percentages of renters and people of color. Our results highlight the multiple challenges that renters are likely to face following a hurricane, and we emphasize that disaster recovery in short- and medium-term should focus on providing safe, stable, and affordable rental housing assistance.

Housing cost, consistency, and context and their relationship to health

Housing insecurity is associated with myriad negative outcomes for individuals and communities. Less understood is the indirect and direct relationships between specific types of housing insecurity and health. Using Swope and Hernández’s (2019) 4C’s of housing insecurity, data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), structural equation modelling, and binary logistic regression, we examine the relationship between different types of housing insecurity and mental and general health. We find housing cost independently decreases health outcomes while consistency insecurity indirectly affects health by increasing cost burdens. Most forms of housing cost, consistency, and context insecurity have independent and significant negative associations with short-term (12 month) and medium-term (seven to eight years) mental health. This suggests policymakers and advocates should place greater emphasis on housing assistance as an entitlement and cash assistance that vulnerable populations can use to address the cause of their specific type of housing insecurity.

Assessing social needs among patients with cardiovascular and psychiatric comorbidities in free community health clinics.

Community-related health assessments have been shown to improve several outcomes in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations with comorbid chronic health conditions. However, while it is recognized that modifiable social determinant of health (SDH) factors might be responsible for up to 60% of preventable deaths, it is not yet standard of care to routinely screen and address these at preventive health appointments. The objective of this study was to identify the social needs of socioeconomically disadvantaged patients. We performed a retrospective review of the socioeconomic screening questionnaires distributed to under- and uninsured patients seen at a medical student-run free primary care-based community clinic. This study included participants of all ages (0 and up), genders, languages, and ethnicities who filled out the social screening questionnaire. Socioeconomic screening questionnaires assessed the need for critical resources such as food, housing, utilities, finances, transportation, childcare, employment, education, legal support, companionship, health literacy, and community assistance. The primary study outcome was to identify unmet social needs of our medical student-run free clinic patients. We secondarily sought to identify associations between these needs and chronic health conditions. We hypothesized that patients with multiple chronic health problems and financial stressors would have the highest requests for resources. Our retrospective review identified 264 uninsured participants who were evaluated for social needs using a screening questionnaire. Participants who reported unmet social needs had significantly more cardiovascular risk factors than those who did not. Cardiovascular comorbidities and a history of psychiatric illness were the two most common medical problems significantly associated with several unmet social needs. This study provides support for the preemptive identification and appropriate management of physical, mental, and social care to improve disproportionate disparities in long-term health outcomes.

The relationship between health and housing in low-income older adults: A secondary analysis of survey data.

To examine the health-housing relationship in low-income older adults, and differences by income and receipt of housing assistance. Secondary analysis of longitudinal survey data. About 10,858 adults aged 62+ who completed at least one wave of the 2014 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) (n=37,333 observations). SIPP variables representing demographics and housing quality, affordability, stability, and neighborhood were analyzed. Low-income and higher-income participants were differentiated by the household income-to-poverty ratio. Low-income participants were significantly more likely to be in poor health and report problems with housing quality, affordability, and neighborhood safety compared to higher-income participants (p<.001). Increased household size and problems with housing quality and neighborhood safety were associated with poor health in both groups (p<.05). Low-income participants who received housing assistance were significantly poorer, less healthy, and food insecure than participants not receiving assistance (p<.001); however, the health-housing relationship was not different in the two groups. Results provide additional support for housing as a social determinant of older adult health. Though housing assistance programs reached a subset of low-income older adults, the results suggest a housing assistance shortfall. Implications for public health nurses and researchers are explored.

IMPLEMENTASI PROGRAM PEMBANGUNAN PERUMAHAN RAKYAT DI KABUPATEN BONE BOLANGO

The housing assistance program is a form of housing subsidy in the form of money or direct development which is intended for low-income households as an effort by the government to increase housing resilience and provide social protection to targeted households. The Government of Bone Bolango Regency in order to improve the welfare and equity of development for the people in their area, has implemented a decent housing assistance program for the less fortunate, where it is the government's responsibility to create a just and prosperous society. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method by prioritizing primary data and secondary data, focusing on how the implementation of the public housing development program in Bone Bolango Regency and the factors that influence it. The results of the study show that the public housing development program in Bone Bolango Regency from 2010 - 2018 has been going well and the benefits have been felt directly by the community as the recipients of the policy itself. However, the government must further maximize the public housing development program in 2019 and 2020, because the planned development program has not been fully realized. The supporting and inhibiting factors for policy implementation include communication, resources, attitudes of policy implementers, and bureaucratic structure.

Analysis of The Relationship Between Self-Help Housing Assistance Programs and The Reduction of Stunting in Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the relationship between government policy in the form of the Self-Help Housing Stimulant Assistance Program (BSPS/Self-Help Homes Program) and the reduction of stunting in Indonesia. By utilizing data on the prevalence of stunting in districts/cities in Indonesia in 2016-2021 and data on districts/cities receiving self-help housing assistance in 2016-2021, this study uses the panel data regression method to show the correlation between the BSPS program and the reduction in stunting at the district/city level in Indonesia. Based on the regression results, it can be concluded that the 2016-2021 BSPS Program as an independent variable shows a negative and significant relationship with a decrease in stunting in 514 districts/cities in Indonesia. The percentage of women giving birth in health facilities, proper sanitation, poor population, the ability to read and write in women aged &gt; 15 years, and district/city GDP per capita significantly reduces stunting in Indonesia. On the other hand, toddlers who receive complete basic immunization and state spending on health do not affect stunting reduction. This study recommends expanding the BSPS Program to more districts/cities in Indonesia, increasing the level of knowledge and awareness of mothers about stunting, improving proper sanitation, evaluating health spending strategies at the district/city level, and considering regional socioeconomic factors in policy planning. Moreover, the allocation of resources contributes to reducing stunting.

Associations Between Exit Type From Federal Housing Assistance and Subsequent Homelessness

Relationships between exit types and homelessness after exiting from federal housing assistance in King County, Washington have yet to be explored. Through a retrospective cohort study including people who exited from Seattle Housing Authority (2012–2018) or King County Housing Authority (2016–2018), differences in time-to-homelessness between groups with different exit types were examined. Among 16,301 people who exited housing assistance, 2,703 (16%) experienced homelessness within one year post-exit. Analysis of a Cox model shows within one year post-exit, positive exits are associated with lower probabilities of experiencing homelessness and negative exits are associated with higher probabilities of experiencing homelessness. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis indicated evictions have the largest negative impact on experiencing homelessness.

Trusted residents and housing assistance to decrease violence exposure in New Haven (TRUE HAVEN): a strengths-based and community-driven stepped-wedge intervention to reduce gun violence

BackgroundWe describe the rationale and study design for “TRUsted rEsidents and Housing Assistance to decrease Violence Exposure in New Haven (TRUE HAVEN),” a prospective type 1 hybrid effectiveness/implementation study of a multi-level intervention using a stepped wedge design. TRUE HAVEN aims to lower rates of community gun violence by fostering the stability, wealth, and well-being of individuals and families directly impacted by incarceration through the provision of stable housing and by breaking the cycle of trauma.DesignTRUE HAVEN is an ongoing, multi-level intervention with three primary components: financial education paired with housing support (individual level), trauma-informed counseling (neighborhood level), and policy changes to address structural racism (city/state level). Six neighborhoods with among the highest rates of gun violence in New Haven, Connecticut, will receive the individual and neighborhood level intervention components sequentially beginning at staggered 6-month steps. Residents of these neighborhoods will be eligible to participate in the housing stability and financial education component if they were recently incarcerated or are family members of currently incarcerated people; participants will receive intense financial education and follow-up for six months and be eligible for special down payment and rental assistance programs. In addition, trusted community members and organization leaders within each target neighborhood will participate in trauma-informed care training sessions to then be able to recognize when their peers are suffering from trauma symptoms, to support these affected peers, and to destigmatize accessing professional mental health services and connect them to these services when needed. Finally, a multi-stakeholder coalition will be convened to address policies that act as barriers to housing stability or accessing mental healthcare. Interventions will be delivered through existing partnerships with community-based organizations and networks. The primary outcome is neighborhood rate of incident gun violence. To inform future implementation and optimize the intervention package as the study progresses, we will use the Learn As You Go approach to optimize and assess the effectiveness of the intervention package on the primary study outcome.DiscussionResults from this protocol will yield novel evidence for whether and how addressing structural racism citywide leads to a reduction in gun violence.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05723614. Registration date: February 01, 2023. Please refer to https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05723614 for public and scientific inquiries.

Disastrous Burdens: Hurricane Katrina, Federal Housing Assistance, and Well-Being

Disastrous Burdens: Hurricane Katrina, Federal Housing Assistance, and Well-Being

"All carrots and no stick": Perceived impacts, changes in practices, and attitudes among law enforcement following drug decriminalization in Oregon State, USA.

By passing Ballot Measure 110 (BM 110), Oregon became the first U.S. state to decriminalize noncommercial possession of drugs that are illegal under the Controlled Substances Act.This study examined the perceived impacts of BM 110 on law enforcement and Oregon communities. Our team visited four geographically distinct Oregon counties in August 2022 (two urban, two rural). The qualitative study involved conducting 34 hour-long interviews with law enforcement, other criminal legal system personnel, and representatives from emergency medical services/fire and substance use treatment and harm reduction agencies. Interviewees were asked about their perceptions of BM 110's effects on law enforcement, their communities, and agencies. Law enforcement interviewees viewed BM 110 as a failure; they perceived it resulted in an erosion of their authority. They expressed frustration that they could not use drug possession as a "tool" for investigations to pursue and build cases, establish probable cause, and impose what they believed necessary for social order. Law enforcement personnel in all four counties indicated they routinely seized drugs and drug paraphernalia during encounters with people using drugs, even when that was the only offense being committed. Police lacked knowledge that BM 110 included support for harm reduction services, housing assistance, and employment support. Law enforcement personnel had different opinions and practices regarding issuing Class E violations; those who did not issue them viewed them as a waste of time because they are not entry points into the criminal legal system. This study provides insights into drug decriminalization in Oregon. This examination is critical for informing BM 110's continued implementation as Oregon proceeds with increased treatment and support service provision. Our findings have important implications regarding other states' design and implementation of drug policy alternatives, including ones that remove law enforcement's role in addressing drug use.

MEDICO-BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON THE POPULATION IN THE CONDITIONS OF HOSTILITIES

Background. Investigating the medical-biological and socio-economic impacts of PTSD on a country's population is essential, as PTSD can cause serious mental and somatic health issues, affect work capacity and overall quality of life, and have long-term consequences for veterans and survivors. Understanding and studying the causes and consequences of PTSD is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies and ensuring national security and sustainable development of the country.&#x0D; Aim: To analyze the medical-biological and socio-economic consequences of PTSD on veterans and the population as a whole.&#x0D; Materials and methods. A data analysis was conducted using information obtained from online database searches in "PubMed," "National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism," "ScienceDirect," and "Psychiatrist.com," with keywords such as "post-traumatic stress disorder," "civilian population," "military," "veterans," "comorbid conditions," "alcoholism," "drug addiction," "economic burden," "disability," "costs," "socio-economic status," "combat operations," and "support for survivors."&#x0D; Results. PTSD is a significant societal and economic challenge. Negative trends of these consequences are most acutely manifested in countries experiencing recent or ongoing military conflicts, where the dynamics of PTSD are increasing. Timely diagnosis and active public education are extremely important for preventing the development of chronic conditions and avoiding limitations on the functioning of survivors. Real-world practice demonstrates that support for individuals with PTSD often includes not only professional medical therapy but also assistance in employment, housing, and social adaptation.&#x0D; Conclusion. PTSD is a serious problem for veterans and civilian populations, requiring attention and support from the government and society. Further research and the development of effective treatment and support methods for people suffering from PTSD are needed to improve their quality of life and promote social integration.

1023-P: Current Practices in Racial Equity—Findings from the T1D Exchange Quality Improvement Collaborative (T1DX-QI) in 2022

Background: Medical racism contributes to adverse health outcomes. T1DX-QI is a large population-based cohort engaged in data sharing and quality improvement to drive system changes in type 1 diabetes care. The annual T1DX-QI survey included questions to evaluate racial equity in diabetes care and practices to promote equity. Methods: The annual T1DX-QI survey was administered to participating clinics fall 2022 and had a 94 % response rate. There were 50 responses consisting of 66% pediatric (P) and 34% adult (A) institutions. Questions concerned clinic resources, LGBTQ+ practices, racial equity, patient transition, and reproductive health. Response data were aggregated, summarized and stratified by P/A institutions. Results: Only 21% P and 33% A institutions felt all their team members can articulate how medical racism contributes to adverse diabetes outcomes. Pediatric institutions reported more strategies to address medical racism than adult (3.6 vs 3.1). Organizational strategies to decrease racial discrimination included employee trainings, DEI offices/committees, patient resources and hiring practices. Patient resources include interpreter services, transportation, insurance navigation, and housing and food assistance. Hiring practices included changing prior protocols, hiring from the community, and diversifying workforces. Majority of institutions have offered anti-racism training in the last year (P 85%, A 72%) and annually (P 64%, A 56%). Pediatric teams felt that their anti-racism training was effective more often (P 60%, A 45%) and more commonly were provided resources (67% P vs 47% A) to help address inequities. Conclusion: Despite increased offering in anti-racism training, insufficient institutional support and perceived subeffective training still represent obstacles especially in adult institutions. Sharing effective strategies to address medical racism will help institutions take steps to mitigate inequities. Disclosure J.Sanchez: None. M.Zupa: None. O.Ebekozien: Advisory Panel; Medtronic, Research Support; Eli Lilly and Company, Dexcom, Inc. T1dx-qi collaborative: n/a. J.Cases-villablanca: None. A.Addala: None. A.Mungmode: None. T.Wright: None. R.M.Wolf: Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim Inc. A.Ahmann: Advisory Panel; Medtronic. N.N.Mathioudakis: None. J.Ng: Research Support; Sanofi-Aventis U.S. Funding The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust

Opportunities and Challenges to Linkage to Housing in the Context of a Sexual and Reproductive Health Program for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Youth homelessness remains a major public health issue in the USA, and youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) are still one of the more understudied and underserved groups. Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs for YEH are rare. Yet, such programs are potentially effective settings through which to link YEH with housing services. Wahine (“woman”) Talk is one such comprehensive program for YEH, and is a multilevel intervention delivered out of a youth drop-in center in Honolulu, Hawai ‘i. One of Wahine Talk’s core components is addressing basic needs, including providing linkages to housing services. Little research exists on SRH programs’ opportunities and challenges to providing linkage to housing for YEH. The current study is an exploratory study asking, “What are opportunities and challenges to linking young women experiencing homelessness to housing services through a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health program?” The study team collected in-depth qualitative data through seven focus groups and 25 individual interviews with Wahine Talk staff and youth participants aged 14–22 years. Multiple team members analyzed the data using template analysis. The analysis revealed that while comprehensive SRH programs may have some opportunities and challenges to linking YEH to housing services that are consistent with traditional housing assistance programs, there are also factors specific to SRH programs. In particular, opportunities would be SRH programs employing a housing staff person and bolstering staff-youth meetings and communication. A challenge specific to SRH programs would be prioritizing youth’s reproductive justice (i.e., choice) in lieu of solely prioritizing pregnancy reductions and delays; thus, it is recommended to train staff to prioritize youth’s reproductive justice. The findings highlight the importance of SRH programs having staff focused on housing, sufficient opportunities for youth and staff to communicate with each other, and staff trained to prioritize youth’s reproductive justice.