"Like a weight off my shoulders": Participating in peer support from the perspectives of young people experiencing homelessness.

The aim of this study is to explore how young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability experience participating in peer support from paid peer support specialists with shared lived experiences. The present study used participatory qualitative methods, specifically a photovoice project with young people (N = 8) experiencing homelessness or housing instability, to understand their experiences of being in a relationship with a peer support specialist. This study found that young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability experienced peer relationships as uniquely caring and affirming. Young people described peers as "feeling like a friend" and repeatedly expressed that peer support is "deeper than therapy." This sort of support stands in contrast to many conventional service approaches, which tend to be driven by organizational agendas and outcomes leading young people to disaffiliate from services. These findings may guide peer support specialists, service providers beginning peer programming, or those considering models for engaging young people experiencing homelessness.

How do peer support workers value self-directed growth over conventional change goals among young people experiencing homelessness?

The aim of this study is to explore how peer support workers (individuals with similar lived experiences employed to provide support) conceptualize change work with young people experiencing homelessness. The present study used participatory qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews and journaling with peer support workers and program supervisors and administrators, to understand how peers understand change work with young people experiencing homelessness. This study found that peers center self-directed growth among young people experiencing homelessness, rather than change that prioritizes meeting program-directed outcomes such as obtaining housing or gaining employment. Peer relationships invite possibility and create containers of hope when supporting young people experiencing homelessness, regardless of their paths. Lastly, peers recognize that growth happens in seasons, and embrace such seasons as checkpoints on youths' journeys. Such findings may guide service providers beginning peer programming or those considering models for engaging young people experiencing homelessness in relationship-supported growth.

Making power explicit: Using values and power mapping to guide power-diverse Participatory Action Research processes.

AIMS: Participatory action research (PAR) is a research methodology that uses collective and endemic knowledge to inform action and address social concerns. The aim of this study was to understand how one PAR team (comprised of university and community researchers) navigated power dynamics, especially considering the team's power differentials. METHODS: Drawing upon phenomenological and case study methodologies, this qualitative study used loosely structured interviews and journaling with all members of the PAR team (N = 5) to explore explored how the team navigated power throughout the PAR process. FINDINGS: This study found that PAR team members navigated the PAR process using values as a constant guide, especially in negotiating power and resource realities and when distinguishing equity from equality. CONCLUSION: This paper offers a set of power and values mapping practices which may guide power-diverse PAR teams by addressing power and values realities in their own unique and contextually bound PAR processes.