They Lay Down the Foundation and Then They Leave Room for Us to Build the House: A Visual Qualitative Exploration of Young Adults' Experiences of Transitional Housing

Although research has established a high risk of homelessness among young people aging out of foster care, little is known about the experience of these youth who are helped to make the transition to independent living through supportive housing programs. We interview 14 transition-age youth (18 to 24 years) using photo elicitation interviewing to investigate how young people who have aged out of foster care visually and verbally narrate their journeys through transitional housing programs. The participants were drawn from two transitional housing programs in Los Angeles County. Data were collected in 3 stages: (a) a semi-structured initial interview; (b) a 2-week period of participant photography and photo development; and (c) an in-depth follow-up interview focused on understanding the photos. Analysis involves open coding of transcripts and photographs, clustering of codes into families, and thematic abstraction. Participants' journeys through transitional housing are captured in 4 major themes: (a) changing perspectives; (b) experiencing newfound independence and control; (c) performing a juggling act; and (d) wanting to move forward, yet feeling unprepared. Study findings illustrate how transition-age youth experience their gradual independence and the ways in which transitional housing programs can provide critical support during this important period. In addition, the findings point to the need for further research regarding how young people can optimally balance employment and educational demands in the context of supportive housing.