Factors influencing the length of time care leavers spend on a housing program to promote autonomy

In Catalonia, care leavers can apply for a housing program offered by ASJTET (Area de Suport al Jove Tutelat i Extutelat – Support Office for Young People In Care and Care Leavers) to those aged between 18 and 21. This... [ view full abstract ]

In Catalonia, care leavers can apply for a housing program offered by ASJTET (Area de Suport al Jove Tutelat i Extutelat – Support Office for Young People In Care and Care Leavers) to those aged between 18 and 21. This program offers care leavers residential units shared with other young people and supervised by a social educator, who usually visits twice a week. The program aims to help care leavers in their emancipation process. Nevertheless, government reports (DGAIA 2008 and 2014) show that most young people leave the housing program before they are 20 years old, and the average time spent on the program is 15.6 months. Montserrat, Casas and Sisteró (2013) found that 47.5% of care leavers left the ASJTET program upon completing the autonomy plan agreed with their social educator, whereas the remaining 52.5% left because their process was not working (24.1%) or because they had decided to leave despite their planned goals not having been met.

The aim of this study is to determine factors influencing the length of time care leavers spend on the housing program. We interviewed one ASJTET professional, 26 professionals from NGOs that provide the residential units and 33 care leavers on the housing program. Semi-structured interviews were used.
The professionals pointed out that those young people who stay and take advantage of the program are the ones who have a clear plan for autonomy and accept the educational guidance and rules. Both professionals and care leavers agreed that having an educational plan or being enrolled on a study program were factors that extend the length of time on the program. The professionals also pointed out that a lack of employment opportunities dissuades young people from leaving the program because economic grants do not provide them with enough financial stability.

Regarding reasons for leaving the housing program, both the professionals and young people mentioned financial stability. However, the main reason given by the latter was the desire to lead an independent life without professionals controlling their lives or needing to follow the program rules.

Most professionals reported that they frequently need to push young people on the program, who either settle into a routine or become too afraid of the uncertainties of life outside the program to leave it. In fact, due to the social and economic situation and the lack of job opportunities, most of the young people leave the program without having had the chance to test themselves.