Date of Submission

5-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Community Psychology

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Melissa L. Whitson, Ph.D.

Committee Member

R. Lillie Macias, Ph.D.

Keywords

Housing, Homelessness, Healthy Homes, Low-income Communities

LCSH

Housing authorities, Homelessness--United States, Low-income housing--United States

Abstract

Across the United States, there are a multitude of barriers that stand in the way of obtaining adequate housing and additional resources that can assist with accessing housing. These barriers disproportionately impact low-income individuals and communities (Gold, 2016), and further contribute to inequity by negatively impacting the health of these individuals and communities (Swope & Hernández, 2019; Taylor, 2018). The current study explores housing organizations’ potential role in overcoming these barriers by focusing on the work of one housing organization in the Greater New Haven and Fairfield Counties of Connecticut: New Reach. 17 participants enrolled in New Reach programs were interviewed about their perceptions of program services and the impact these services had on their lives. Data analysis was conducted using deductive thematic analysis which applied Sylvestre et al.’s (2018) framework for understanding perceptions of housing and shelter – materiality, spatiality, and meaningfulness – to the data. An additional code of areas of need/challenges emerged from the data. Through these interviews, it became clear that the organization served as a mediator and steppingstone to healthy homes. Program services provided a roof over clients’ heads, access to a network of resources previously unknown, and an area of refuge and community. Dissemination of information across communities was an area of weakness. A more systematic and coordinated approach to providing resources in communities can be a widespread and beneficial way of addressing this challenge (Gutman et al., 2019; Zlotnick et al., 2013). Understanding the impact housing organizations have on reducing barriers can lead to opportunities for future grants and funding to increase and expand the capabilities of these organizations, thus increasing and expanding the capabilities of communities across the country.

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