From Coping to Resilience: How Youth with Lived Experience of Homelessness Cope with Stressful Experiences

Homelessness presents numerous challenges for youth, including physical health issues, mental health problems, substance use, victimization, legal issues, and dropping out of school. Despite these challenges, youth display significant resilience. Using data from a randomized controlled trial on Housing First for Youth, this study examines qualitative narratives delving into the process of resilience (i.e., stressors, coping, and positive adaptation) among 21 youth over one year. Stressors varied among participants, with childhood abuse and instability being the most prominent. Coping mechanisms included creating barriers with unhealthy relationships, rebuilding relationships, and reframing their circumstances. The findings provide an exploration of the resilience process for youth experiencing homelessness, emphasizing the importance of understanding how youth respond to stressors and adapt to their environment. Additionally, this study highlights the significance of community and relationship-based coping strategies alongside individual approaches, thus displaying the pivotal role of community support in fostering resilience among homeless youth.