Pepperdine University Pepperdine Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations 2021 An exploration of successful housing outcomes after homelessness: an experience captured through the lens of U.S. Veterans Janice Filer Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd Part of the Leadership Studies Commons, Military and Veterans Studies Commons, Public Administration Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology AN EXPLORATION OF SUCCESSFUL HOUSING OUTCOMES AFTER HOMELESSNESS: AN EXPERIENCE CAPTURED THROUGH THE LENS OF U.S. VETERANS A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Global Leadership and Change by Janice Filer July, 2021 June Schmieder, Ph.D. – Dissertation Chair This dissertation, written by Janice Filer under the guidance of a Faculty Committee and approved by its members, has been submitted and accepted by the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Doctoral Committee: June Schmieder, Ph.D., Chairperson Kfir Mordechay, Ph.D., Committee Member Wilisha Daniels, Ph. D., Committee Member © Copyright by Janice Filer (2021) All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................... ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...............................................................................................................x VITA .............................................................................................................................................. xi ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................................xv Chapter 1: The Problem ...................................................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ................................................................................................ 1 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 5 Purpose Statement ............................................................................................................... 7 Importance of the Study ...................................................................................................... 8 Housing First ....................................................................................................................... 8 Women Veterans ............................................................................................................... 10 African American Veterans .............................................................................................. 10 Religion and Spirituality ................................................................................................... 12 Higher Education .............................................................................................................. 12 Legislation and Veterans................................................................................................... 13 Definition of Terms........................................................................................................... 14 Conceptual/Theoretical Framework.................................................................................. 15 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 16 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 16 Delimitations ..................................................................................................................... 16 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................... 17 Positionality ...................................................................................................................... 17 Organization of the Study ................................................................................................. 19 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 19 Chapter 2: Literature Review .........................................................................................................22 Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................. 22 Maslow .............................................................................................................................. 22 Vygotsky ........................................................................................................................... 23 Growth Mindset ................................................................................................................ 25 Homeless Veterans............................................................................................................ 27 Housing First Programs .................................................................................................... 30 Canada and Europe ........................................................................................................... 33 Women and Homelessness ............................................................................................... 41 African American Veterans and other Black Populations ................................................ 44 Religion/Spirituality and Homelessness in the United States ........................................... 48 Africa ................................................................................................................................ 52 Canada............................................................................................................................... 52 Israel, India, and Australia ................................................................................................ 53 Higher Education .............................................................................................................. 54 Health Challenges ............................................................................................................. 55 Social Support ................................................................................................................... 57 Academic Achievement .................................................................................................... 61 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 63 Chapter 3: Research Methodology and Procedures .......................................................................65 Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................. 65 Research Design................................................................................................................ 66 Trustworthiness ................................................................................................................. 66 Pilot Study ......................................................................................................................... 67 Subjects ............................................................................................................................. 68 Consent Procedures ........................................................................................................... 68 Instrumentation ................................................................................................................. 69 Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 69 Data Collection and Recordings ....................................................................................... 70 Data Processing and Analysis ........................................................................................... 70 Methodological Assumptions ........................................................................................... 73 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 73 Delimitations ..................................................................................................................... 74 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................................. 74 Chapter 4: Findings ........................................................................................................................77 Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................. 77 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 77 Data Collection ................................................................................................................