Development of a Career Intervention for Women in a Transitional Housing Program

This exploratory case study investigates the lived experiences of group facilitators and group participants who engaged in a five-week career intervention that was grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994) and the Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy et al., 2016). The career intervention was developed specifically for women living in a transitional housing program in the Southeast. Transitional housing programs provide support primarily for individuals who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV), homelessness, and past incarceration. These programs were developed to provide housing and tangible resources to members of these populations for a limited time until these individuals can locate stable housing (Clark et al., 2019). Systemic barriers also affect individuals who traditionally occupy transitional housing programs. For example, those who have experienced past incarceration may have difficulty obtaining employment due to a felon status. There is a great need for career programming to support individuals from these backgrounds in their career endeavors. Data in this project included a focus group with program participants, individual interviews with program facilitators, and weekly reflections written by the facilitators. Participants shared how the intervention personally affected them, as well as overall outcomes of the intervention. Using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), five themes were identified: relational connections, barriers and supports related to career outcomes, volition, self-awareness, and program facilitation and planning. The results highlight implications for practice, advocacy, and research to further address the barriers and strengths of individuals living in transitional housing programs and provide recommendations for future career intervention work.