Date of Conferral

5-22-2025

Date of Award

5-22-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Dr. La Toya Johnson

Abstract

Youth homelessness rose in Johnson County, Kansas, by 37 percent, partly due to family conflict and socioeconomic challenges. The lack of guidance, social support, and resources can create a domino effect. While existing literature has examined youth homelessness at the national level and in other sub-national locations, the impact of federal and state policies related to homelessness among youth in Johnson County, Kansas, has not been explored. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the perceptions and practices of administrators in homeless services who manage federal and state funding guided by public policies for homeless youth, based on five factors: family conflict, sexual orientation, school issues, substance abuse, and affordable housing. Social construction and policy design theory served as a theoretical foundation for the study. Eight participants over the age of 18 who had experience working with homeless youth were selected, and online interviews were conducted to collect data. The themes derived from the analysis of the interview data included (a) family conflict, (b) homelessness, (c) homeless youth, (d) affordable housing, and (e) support systems. The findings reinforced that family conflict is linked to all other factors, and providing mental health, education, employment, and housing opportunities are essential building blocks for homeless youth. Social change implications for this group involve revisiting policies.to assist, a notion highlighted by the concept of social construction.

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