Homelessness and the High Performance Cycle: A New Lens for Studying Exit Strategies
This research explores how goal setting and motivation influences efforts to exit homelessness. Drawing on interviews with individuals experiencing homelessness in the Intermountain West, the study examines how concepts from organizational behavior and workplace motivation can help explain successful transitions out of homelessness.
The article highlights the importance of clear goals, persistence, and supportive systems in achieving long-term housing stability and suggests that social service professionals may benefit from incorporating structure goal-setting strategies into their work with unhoused populations.
Key Takeaways:
- Goal setting can play an important role in helping individuals successfully exit homelessness
- The study applies concepts from workplace motivation and organizational behavior research to homelessness services
- Researchers found that people who successfully exited homelessness often demonstrated patterns connected to the "high performance cycle," including clear goals, motivation, persistence, and support systems
- Personal agency and structured goal-setting processes may help individuals navigate barriers related to housing and employment
- Social service professionals may improve outcomes by incorporating intentional goal-setting strategies into their work with unhoused populations
- The study highlights the value of combining insights from multiple disciplines to better support long-term stability and recovery
This article was authored by Erik Lovell, Brent Hutchison, Ke'ala Cabulagan, John McMullin, Curtis Child.
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