Thawing out: Understanding adjustment to housing first through an ecological and trauma-informed lens

ABSTRACT

This study describes the experiences of a new Housing First (HF) using an ecological and trauma-informed perspective as a lens for understanding the findings. The environment of HF has been described by staff as a “slow thaw,” which serves as a useful metaphor for the slow but steady healing residents experience after a life lived on the streets. Study findings include three key themes: 1) participants acknowledged that in many ways, their lives have improved after moving into HF; however, participants emphasized to researchers they had also been successful in managing their lives on the streets; 2) participants perceived that while their physical environment may have changed, much about the way they managed relationships and stress remained unchanged; and 3) for some residents, moving into HF had little to no impact on their drinking, while others report substantial decreases or changes in their alcohol consumption. These themes highlight this slow “thawing out” process experienced by residents and discuss the critical roles time and environment play in this process. Recommendations are included for HF facilities to better understand resident behavior through a trauma-informed lens.

KEYWORDS:

• Housing First
• Trauma-informed theory
• ecological theory
• Permanent Supported Housing
• American Indian/Alaska Native