The Impact of Transitional Housing on the Post-Discharge Functioning of Former Foster Youth

Abstract

Three years of data that describes the adaptation of 106 former foster youth to young adulthood are presented. Youth outcomes were compared on whether they initially resided in transitional housing (TH) at discharge or went to other living arrangements (OLA). Findings were that youth residing in the TH reported more housing stability, were less likely to be unemployed, used substances less, and had less criminal justice contact than OLA youth. However, multivariate analysis showed substance users and Caucasian youth had more housing instability than others, regardless of their initial discharge housing arrangement. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• transitional housing
• foster youth
• discharge from care
• homelessness
• discharged foster youth
• substance abuse