Homeless young adults represent a failure of the U.S. social services system to prevent new
generations of homeless people. However several organizations are working in concert with
communities and governments to combat this problem through transitional housing programs that
target young adults ages 18 to 24. Many of these programs mirror the new urban development
trend of mixed-income housing and place transitional houses inside stable neighborhoods that
are either affluent or mixed-income themselves. While these programs represent monumental
commitments in terms of resources they also represent hope for many young adults. The sense of
community these young-adult residents feel toward their neighborhoods and programs have lasting
effects on the residents abilities to find normalcy inside the American culture through access
to education safety and employment. This study examines the YMCA Young Adult Services Program
(serving the greater Seattle area) for transitional housing exploring how the program works
and what is residents psychological sense of community.
