title: Finding Home: A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Adolescent Mothers' Housing Instability.
abstract: Many low-income Latina adolescent mothers face instability in their housing circumstances, which has implications for their long-term prospects and that of their children. This study used longitudinal, ethnographic data from Welfare, Children, and Families: A Three-City Study to explore experiences of low-income, Latina adolescent mothers (N = 15) with unstable housing who primarily rely on their families or the families of their significant others for housing support. Results of analysis employing grounded theory and narrative approaches suggested two types of instability: "Horizontal moves" between family homes and "vertical moves" between family homes and independent living. Although family support often was fundamental in allowing for participants' pursuit of independent housing (i.e., vertical moves), it also was associated with greater residential mobility (i.e., horizontal moves), most often in the context of intrafamilial conflict and family instability. These results are discussed with respect to inconsistencies in policies to address this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Margaret C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Shuey
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zaika
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mims
authors.affiliation: Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Tama
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leventhal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001900:Boston; D002641:Chicago; D054541:Family Conflict; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D009035:Mothers; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011203:Poverty; D011640:Public Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013781:Texas
keywords: Adolescent parenting; Housing; Latinas; Residential mobility; Social support