Project Overview

Background: Our Transitioning Youth out of Homelessness (TYOH) study – a two-year portable rent subsidy and mentorship intervention – found that identity capital – a sense of purpose, control, self efficacy, and self-esteem – played a crucial role in sustaining successful exits from homelessness. Neither stable housing nor formal mentorship had a substantial impact on increasing the internal resource of identity capital. Primary Objective: Explore whether targeted economic and identity-based supports offer promise as a feasible and acceptable way to foster socioeconomic inclusion and sustain exits from homelessness. Method: Phase One: Co-design leadership training program. Phase Two: All (n = 40) participants receive portable rent subsidies for one year; half will also have access to the co-designed leadership program and a dedicated life coach. The intervention will be evaluated through focus groups and validated survey instruments. Implications: This novel intervention could transform the way we conceptualize how to sustain successful exits from homelessness.