A Pilot Study of an Occupational Therapy Housing Management Intervention for Young People Experiencing Homelessness

Because of limited experiences and opportunities, young people experiencing homelessness may lack the skills to obtain, maintain, and manage housing. A pretest-posttest pilot study with embedded qualitative procedures was used to evaluate the impact of a six-week housing management intervention on self-efficacy, goal attainment, and life skills for nine young people aged 18–21 experiencing homelessness. Improvements were noted on the Casey Life Skills Assessment subscales: Daily Living (p = .038), Housing/Money Management/Transportation (p=.008), Relationship/Communication (p = .026), and Looking Forward (p = .007). On the Goal Attainment Scale, a total of 37 goals were set, 32 of which were achieved at the expected or greater than expected level. Qualitative categories consisted of: (1) program outcomes, including life skills learned and increased motivation; (2) contributors to success, including teaching/learning strategies, instructor skills, and prioritized content; and (3) program considerations, including future recommendations. Findings indicate that a housing management intervention inclusive of education and opportunities to practice life skills has the potential to impact housing stability for young people experiencing homelessness.