Faculty Mentor: Jeff Rose (Parks, Recreation, & Tourism); Graduate Student Mentor: Sasha Mader (Parks, Recreation, & Tourism)

Homelessness is a complex social issue in the United States (Williams, 2017), and defining it can be problematic (Sullivan, 2023). This study conceptualizes experiencing unsheltered homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular, or adequate nighttime residence in alignment with the definition put forth by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2018). This lack of residence can be experienced as sheltered homelessness, where the individual resides with friends (Petry et al., 2021; Kulik et al., 2011). Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness are the most vulnerable to threats to their health and well-being. Health outcomes are especially relevant for youth experiencing homelessness as they often lack access to financial and emotional resources (Klein et al., 2000; Edidin et al., 2011). Having a marginalized identity, like being a youth who identifies as LGBTQ+, increases the likelihood of experiencing homelessness and adds a layer of vulnerability to poor physical and mental health outcomes (The Trevor Project, 2022). However, we believe the creation and maintenance of a community may be an antidote to the suffering experienced by LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. Although previous studies attempting to link participation in a community and positive health outcomes have not produced generalizable evidence of community as a health intervention (Wells et al., 2004), there is evidence that having increased peer support and community connectedness can reduce suicidal ideation (Matlin et al., 2011). As an additional step toward linking community connectedness to positive health outcomes, this study aims to understand how LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness in the Salt Lake Valley create and maintain community. In the project, an exploratory qualitative research design was developed to identify and help provide insight into how individuals within the target population define, create, and maintain a community. The semi-structured interview protocol was developed to elicit youth’s narratives about the impact of their experiences of homelessness on their physical and mental well-being and to understand how the creation and maintenance of community may impact their experiences. As this research further develops, we hope our participant’s narratives will serve as a foundation of understanding for a larger interdisciplinary study investigating community as a mental health intervention for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.

Reference

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