Finding Home. Sense of Community for Previously Homeless Young Adults in YMCA Transitional Housing

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Author's Note
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Liberation Theology and Empowerment
• Limitations
• Methods
  • Vocabulary
  • Interviews
  • ZIP Codes, Census Tracts & Housing Location
  • Mixed-Income Neighborhoods in Chicago
  • YMCA Young Adult Services
    • Structure of Young Adult Services
    • Model of Involvement
    • ZIP Codes, Census Tracts & Housing Location
    • Story of Sue
• Results
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• References
• Endnotes
• Appendices
  • Appendix I: young Adult Resident Survey
  • Appendix II: Resident Manager Email Interview Questions
  • Appendix III: Subject Pseudo-names
  • Appendix IV: Answers to Resident Survey Subjective Questions
  • Figure 1: Structure of YMCA YAS
  • Figure 2: YMCA YAS Model of Involvement

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis investigates the development of a sense of community among previously homeless young adults residing in YMCA transitional housing. It aims to understand the factors that contribute to or hinder the formation of community within this specific context. The study utilizes qualitative research methods, including interviews and surveys, to explore the lived experiences of the participants and to identify key themes that shape their perceptions of community.

• The impact of homelessness on the development of a sense of community.
• The role of YMCA transitional housing in fostering community among residents.
• The influence of social and economic factors on community building.
• The importance of individual agency and empowerment in creating a sense of belonging.
• The challenges and opportunities associated with building community in transitional housing settings.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The introduction provides an overview of the study's purpose, methodology, and significance. It also introduces the theoretical framework of liberation theology and empowerment, which informs the research.
• This chapter explores the limitations of the study, acknowledging potential biases and constraints that may influence the findings.
• The methods chapter details the research approaches used, including interview techniques, survey design, and data analysis methods.
• This chapter defines key terms used in the study, including vocabulary related to homelessness, transitional housing, and community building.
• The chapter presents the structure of the YMCA Young Adult Services program and its model of involvement. It examines how the program aims to support young adults transitioning out of homelessness.
• This chapter presents the results of the data analysis, highlighting key themes and patterns that emerged from the interviews and surveys.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The study focuses on the keywords: homelessness, transitional housing, YMCA, community, sense of belonging, empowerment, social justice, qualitative research, mixed-income neighborhoods, Chicago. These terms encapsulate the core themes and concepts explored in the research.