Care Leavers’ Perceptions and challenges of Out-of-Home Care: Experiences and Challenges of ‘Housing’

to continue conversations, preferably on alternate days on requirements, feedback, and complaints on the daily living outside Rainbow. Apart from that, monthly visits to group living arrangements and hostels are done by the future focal persons at state levels in all sample states to understand challenges of YAs and provide possible solutions through group discussions. For the girls staying in govt or private hostels in Hyderabad, state team calls for periodic meetings, preferably monthly once, to discuss about their hostel living, challenges faced, essential requirements, whereas regular contacts are made as per the need either over phone or WhatsApp messages.

In Bangalore and Kolkata, it was found that girls do not update proactively to mentors and future coordinators unless there is requirement of some essentials or some issue being faced by any of the YAs or any conflict arises among them. Visits to the group living arrangements in every week by Future Coordinator of Bangalore at the initial period of GL commencement was helpful but later girls started updating the Coordinator every alternate date or as and when required either in WhatsApp group or over phone calls about what all are going on in the group or in case anyone in the group face any challenge. In Kolkata, there was very less communication from the part of the girls staying in group living arrangements and many a times the landlord identified their challenges and kept state team updated. For example, one of the girls who used to leave very early in the morning was not eating any breakfast as no one could make breakfast so early. Neither any of the girls noticed this nor the girl herself spoke to state team about her problem. She gradually developed gastric problem, for not eating anything in the morning for days together. To avoid such issues, frequent follow up calls and visits, preferably 15 days in a month to their living spaces were arranged to understand health related issues, requirements on college fees, project fees, stationary requirements, snacks requirements, family situations etc. A schedule of calls with each group in different living arrangements apart from surprise visits helped to get update on their living on regular basis.

In Delhi, following up the boys and girls living outside are little easier as the boys stay in the office campus and there is a regular Youth Mentor designated for girls’ group living arrangements who stays with the girls everyday till evening. The Youth Coordinator of Boys’ hostel and Youth Mentor of girls’ group living arrangements pass on the messages related to YA’s livings, requirements of cash to pay college fees, problems faced in sustaining jobs, or conflicts among the girls in the group etc. to the Future Coordinator every 15 days .

Such intense follow up and subsequent meeting or discussion with young adults in different living arrangements give confidence to the young adults that they have a platform where they can bring their issues and concerns and can receive guidance and support to address them. An innovative method adopted in Bangalore to enhance capacity of the young adults living outside rainbow’s care. Counselling sessions arranged with YAs to address challenges faced by them. The state team collaborated with play therapist who organised counselling therapy sessions with the groups of YAs through Art, Music, Play etc. Group living girls’ feedback and challenges of living in GL was collected in those sessions. The girls were given tools to practice calmness whenever they face any challenges in group so that they themselves learn to overcome anger, living harmoniously etc. Similarly in Kolkata, discussion sessions were arranged with the girls who came into conflicts with other girls in working women mess or in group living arrangements. YAs were oriented giving practical examples about how to tackle dominating group leader in outside living arrangements without compromising on right things, so that they can themselves handle conflicts among inmates.

CARE LEAvERS’ PERCEPTIonS AnD CHALLEnGES oF ouT-oF-HoME CARE: SPECIAL FoCuS on ExPERIEnCES AnD CHALLEnGES oF ‘HouSInG’

Challenges in finding accommodation

Majority of YAs across cities opted for group living arrangements mainly because of the flexibility and

freedom to make their own system of independent living. YAs with guidance and support from home team and future focal persons searched for accommodations as per preferences based on the criteria such as,

P Access to proper water, toilets, electricity connections and cooking space P Access to safe transport P Convenience to reach work-place or college/ institution P Safe neighbourhood and community

YAs across cities mentioned that the real challenge after transition was in getting suitable accommodation. There are a number of barriers preventing YAs in accessing group living accommodations in private rented buildings as most of the house owners were not willing to rent out to the YAs, particularly to the girls because of their backgrounds or apprehending consequences such as, possibility of too much water consumptions, safety issues, chances of the girls bringing their boyfriends, chances of girls escaping without paying rents etc.

Many YAs had to change accommodation several times to get suitable ones. Either there were issues with water and toilet in the rented living accommodations or issue with safety in the neighbourhoods. Wherever there was adequate water supply or better toilet facility, the rent amount was exorbitantly high and beyond the provisions of Rainbow. In some places rented houses had toilet outside with broken door, despite affordable rents and safe communities. Some of the girls in group living arrangements in Kolkata faced challenge in getting accommodation nearby college as many of the house owners were reluctant to keep girls in their houses.

Advantages and challenges related to staying in different living arrangements

A mixed response has been obtained from sample YAs in terms of advantages and disadvantages of different living options. YAs in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata staying in Hostel accommodations mentioned about advantages in terms of food and responsibilities of maintaining the living spaces are being taken care by the hostel managements and hence students get sufficient time for study rather than carrying out responsibilities of cooking, cleaning etc. Some YAs mentioned about conducive study atmosphere in hostels that are missing in un-supported group living arrangements, because in hostels, the YAs are motivated towards study by seeing other girls studying regularly.

The girls opined that while doing full time jobs, YAs can switch to any group living arrangements as they do not have to concentrate on education after coming back from work and hence would be possible to take responsibilities of household chores. Apart from that, YAs in hostel living arrangements often feel the challenge that if one of the roommates falls sick there is no one to bring a doctor/ medicine or take care of the sick, whereas in independent living arrangements, other girls do household chores and also take care of the sick girl.

Few girls in hostel accommodations preferred Govt

Hostels over private hostels, mainly because in govt hostels the food served is safe and there are spacious rooms with plenty of mattress in big dormitories. For instance, the rice being served in govt hostels are much better than that of private hostels because in order to get extra profit, private hostels mix soda while cooking rice. This makes the cooking faster and saves fuel. Also, it reduces the appetite of boarders, thus saving on quantity of rice.

Control over environment: community supports and safety in living spaces

Moving from rainbow homes’ care set-up to a more independent living facility is a big change hence, struggles; safety issues; opposition from communities and adjustment issues in the communities are unavoidable. Despite all efforts of ensuring safety and convenience while choosing accommodations for the young adults keeping their preferences, some of sample young adults mentioned about adjustment issues in their different living spaces. On the contrary some mentioned about comfortable staying in their living spaces and cooperative neighbourhood around.

Challenges faced in different living arrangements

Group Living

 YAs in Bangalore and Kolkata complaint of high electricity charges by house owners in their group living accommodations. The electric charge also seems to be on a higher side as the YAs most of the time stay out of the apartment and the landlords never show original bills in order to verify the amount charged by the department.

 Girls in group living arrangement in Hyderabad mentioned about challenges in living harmoniously. Some of the members do not follow daily rosters especially when it comes to cleaning of utensils. Consequently, there have been fights and conflicts within members of group living across all states, for which future focal persons has to intervene. Hence, most of the girls opined that those who find it difficult to manage household works along with studies should not opt for group living.  Money management is another challenge for the YAs across cities. So, they use to spend all monthly contributions very early and struggle during the rest of the days of month.  In the absence of any adult supervisor or any strict schedule of sleeping and waking-up time in independent living, YAs end up sleeping late night and waking up late in the morning. Also, without any adult supervisor to control daily activities or scheduled study time, YAs mentioned about lack of motivation to study on regular basis.

 Infrastructural difficulties are faced by few YAs in group living arrangements. Girls in Bangalore spoke about struggle to get water despite paying money to house owner for water supply in washrooms. Girls in one group living in Kolkata mentioned about broken windows in their living space and managing with plastic cover/cloth to protect themselves from rain water.

The same girls struggled with the washroom constructed outside the premise posing serious safety concern during night.  YAs mentioned about lack of entertainment options in group living as was the case in Rainbow where they had peers to talk to or activities to be part with.  Mismanagement in govt-run welfare hostel for women-

In the welfare hostel for women in Kolkata, the cook left work and Hostel Management decided to distribute cooking responsibilities to hostel boarders. It was decided that salary amount that was being paid to the cook would be spent on groceries and food items.

But even though Girls started sharing the responsibility of cooking, the food menu did not improve. Girls complained that on most of the days either ladyfinger or any one other vegetable were supplied for cooking, eggs only for 2 days in a week and fish/chicken only once in a month. They opined that not even 25% of the menu prescribed by the Government are provided to the girls.  Disturbances in studies were reported by few girls in private hostels. Mainly where working and non-working girls/women stay together because working roommates play loud music or talk loudly over phone that disturbs the girls who study in the evening.  Rules and restrictions in the hostels regarding back to hostel by 9 pm and informing the warden before going anywhere from hostel and beyond college hours are neither being followed nor any action is being taken by the warden in case of violation of the rule. Also, there is no monitoring of timings in entry and exit registers to check whether girls signed on exit register came back on same day or not.

Social Welfare Hostels/ Working women hostels

 Despite high fee amount and additional amount are being charged in case of late payment there are unhygienic rooms and poor maintenance of premise, especially washrooms. For example, in a private hostel in

Hyderabad, for 9 rooms, there are only two common toilets and bathrooms on the terrace, which are difficult for girls to access.

 Poor quality meals, especially in the government social welfare hostels. Girls across cities mentioned that they miss the frequent servings of food in Rainbow because in SW hostels, food are given only twice. Also, they are not allowed to cook in their rooms. Hence, they have no other options than to withstand on low quality and inadequate meals supplied by the hostel.  Also, there is strict timing of food distribution in the government hostels. If the girls misses to collect food from kitchen at scheduled time, they lose their share. Girls in

Hyderabad mentioned that they have been waking up late during holidays and therefore missed their breakfast for many days. Later, girls started collecting their breakfast and then go back to sleep again.

 Non-cooperation of houseowners poses challenges to few YAs staying in group living arrangements.

Although some of the landlords found to be supportive and offered utensils or gas cylinder etc., many were no willing to rent out their apartments to Rainbow girls. Many of them were doubtful that girls may not maintain cleanliness or use bathroom fitting or kitchen shelves properly. In one of the group living in Kolkata, girls mentioned that whenever there is any breakage or leakage in the whole apartment, the landlord start accusing the girls. In some places, landlords were apprehensive whether the girls will be able to continue payment of rent after the end of stipend support from

Rainbow. They were also suspicious about the girls’ point of reference, since they were mostly without families or from homeless families. They were scared in case the girls do something wrong and run away, whom they would contact to get hold of them.  Lack of important life skills such as, cooking, budgeting skills, bargaining with shop keepers for vegetables/ groceries at cheaper rates, interpersonal communication skills etc. posed challenge to few YAs while living in group accommodations. Girls in Kolkata, Bangalore mentioned about challenges in cooking in their group living arrangements since this was not taught in

Rainbow. There have been incidences across cities of burning foods or burning hands at the time of cooking, whereas few YAs got cooking lessons on their own from YOUTUBE videos. Across cities it was found that in order to avoid cooking girls either ended up eating outside food or stayed hungry, if they could not manage the expenses with contributions. These girls feel hostel living to be better as it does not include sharing of cooking or cleaning responsibilities.  One of the major challenges in Govt hostels is that the inmates have to maintain cleanliness of their respective rooms as sweepers are appointed to clean the hostel premise and not individual rooms.  Girls in Govt hostels mentioned about crowded dormitories/rooms in the hostel. More than 15 girls are being placed in one room increase chances of conflict between girls on petty issues such as, preferences of corners, requirement of fan in night etc

 In the govt run social welfare hostel is for distressed girls and women. Rainbow girls mentioned about safety issues during the interview because of little number of residential staff in the hostel. After death of a senior inmate in the hostel few residential staff and most of the inmates left the hostel. Rainbow girls who were interviewed said that, they stayed alone for many days in the hostel as 90% attendance was compulsory for being on scholarships.

 Conflict and misunderstanding among inmates are regular phenomenon in hostels as girls / women of different mind-sets stay together. For example, girls in working women hostels who has to go to work early in the morning mentioned about fight with the room-mates since some of them keep the lights switched on until late night. Another major reason of fight is that roommates use fans and lights during the absence of the girls but they do not take responsibilities of changing the bulbs or servicing of fans. However, despite fights on petty issues, the girls try to manage small conflicts by themselves and do not involve Rainbow staff to intervene.

 Less facilities reported by girls staying in working women hostel in Kolkata. Rainbow girls kept their luggage under the cot in the absence of any locker or cupboard being provided to them. Also, the hostel lacks mosquito net or repellent and girls could not use their personal repellent because of objections from other inmates.  Very less interaction and support from inmates was faced by most of the hostel living girls who were interviewed.

Girls complained about poor bonding among inmates.

The inmates very often order snacks from outside in front of them and do not share anything with them.

Group living girls in Bangalore and Hyderabad mentioned about having supportive community and neighbours. For example, in Bangalore neighbour offer food and sweets to the girls in case of any occasion in the community. Few boys living in the same apartment help the girls every time in replacing gas cylinder as none of the girls could not do that. Similarly in Hyderabad, girls in group living arrangements and hostels are comfortable with the community in their living space and houseowner/ wardens are supportive as long as the girls adhere to the apartment/hostel rules. The group living girls in Delhi did not face any discriminatory comments from anyone in the neighbourhood despite their background. Girls in two of the group living arrangements, women hostel and social welfare hostel in Kolkata also mentioned about cooperative neighbourhood, houseowners and not much issues being faced other than a few eve teasing incidences on their way to college or workplace. For example, in one group living, houseowner has helped girls showing nearby markets to get things in cheaper rate as well as given them a cot and mattress so that girls do not need to buy. The girls are benefitted from the neighbourhood kirana (grocery) shops also as the shop owners provides provisions on credit, in case they do not have cash in hand. In another group living in Kolkata, girls got help from the community with part time work opportunities as home tutors. The houseowner in the group living stay in contact with state team to inform in case girls face any problem. The houseowner also scold the group living girls, if they roam around and neglect on studies.

On the contrary, girls in one of the Group Living arrangements mentioned that the community as little notorious since it is Naxalite area and class conflicts are common. There were incidences of bomb throwing between political parties during election time. Girls also complaint about the quarrelsome neighbours fighting with each other for trivial issues in louder noise that disturb the girls while studying.

Social relationships: Adjustment and Behavioral issues

Apart from education and career, an aspect that needs special attention is that of relationships, especially about understanding, developing and sustaining responsible relationships. Learning to be caring, responsible and build bonding among group mates in any group living or hostel arrangement is very essential for our young adults to ensure smooth independent living post transition. Many of the young adults in Rainbow Homes had dysfunctional families and hence have seen troubled relationships. Also being with Rainbow for long period of time limits young adults’ exposure to larger community and sometimes create challenges of learning social skills. The findings of this study show that YAs in different living arrangements struggled at the initial period post transition to maintain relationships with their peers or inmates and sometime their personal romantic relationships.

“It might be our failure in instilling value education that still few of the YAs do not have fraternity and hold mentality of living for their own, not thinking of their peers in group living arrangements” - Future Focal Persons, Rainbow Homes, Delhi, Kolkata

“We make innovative wall hangings and cupboards from waste materials to keep our staff in the wall. Since others are incapable of making such things, they start abusing us saying that we have started thinking the hostel as our own properties. - Girls in women hostel, Kolkata

Most of the adjustment issues faced by the group living girls across cities when all girls were not taking up responsibilities of their shares of work. Girls mentioned about fighting among themselves over trivial issues in terms of sharing responsibilities in their group living spaces. For example, few non-working girls were given the load of household chores as working girls thought that they cannot follow daily rosters, since they stay out for work and get tired after coming back. In all cities, conflicts observed among working and nonworking YAs about contributing financially by working

YAs for their inmates in the group living who are still looking for jobs or studying.

One instance was observed in one of the group-living arrangement in Kolkata where girls divided themselves into two groups in the same living space, cooking for their own groups, dividing utensils, mattresses, rooms etc, and living individually in the group. In another group living arrangement of Kolkata, all girls had fight with a particular girl for being lazy to follow her duty roster, selfishly cooking only for herself and for not mingling with other girls in the group. In another group living in Kolkata, girls used to fight with one of the girls in that group who had a boyfriend. This is because the boyfriend used to get into fight with the girl very often and the other girls got disturbed in study. There was a lot of adjustment issue with that girl as she used to complain to State Future team and never tried to resolve the problems among themselves. In all such instances state team and future focal persons/ mentors had to intervene calling for group discussion with YAs in order to resolve the conflicts. State team helped girls in allotting day-wise duty to each and the girl who has duty in a day would get up early so that all others do not need to get up early.

YAs in Social Welfare Hostels and Women Hostels faced adjustment issues while staying with strangers of different mindset. Girls mentioned that in hostel living, girls are from different places and they have the tendency to live on their own, not being supportive to peers. One of the girls in working women hostels in Kolkata suffered from a severe rat bite at night and none of the roommates even bothered when the girl was in pain. Most of the hostel living girls complained about the Hostel Supervisor not paying attention, if anyone does not follow the duty or maintain cleanliness in the hostel. In one social welfare hostel, the complaint was about abusive languages being used by inmates.

Daily Routines: maintaining rosters

Routines are also a vital psycho-social mechanism whereby a sense of trust and a feeling of belonging are nurtured and sustained (Giddens, 1976). The daily routines were not always easy or possible to develop for young adults in out-of-home care. The first learning of all Young adults of Rainbow after moving to group living arrangement was to make a routine clearly mentioning the duty rosters. Without adult supports in group living arrangements, YAs need to learn how to take care of themselves and if anyone in the group falls sick how to share the sick inmate’s responsibilities in the group.

To avoid conflicts and fights among inmates in group living, as discussed in previous point, duty rosters get rotated every month, based on YAs’ convenience, rather than keeping same duty for all YAs. For example, in Kolkata, daily scheduling of duties as well as timing to adhere to has been planned so that everyone in the group follow the timing and scheduled duties. For example, girls in Kolkata who have to leave very early in the morning are given duties of cleaning but not cooking, whereas the same girls get cooking duty when they have holidays and so on. Equal responsibilities are given rather than making a group leader to avoid bossing and equal punishment in case of breaking of rules have been imposed. One good practice noticed among group living girls in Kolkata was that from the beginning they set a budget of Rs.100 per day on food and accordingly prepared weekly menu. Shopping of groceries and other are made within the budget so that they do not need to struggle at end of the month, unlike girls in few other groups living across states.

In Delhi, YAs distributed chores among themselves and duty chart is made to display in living place in both the ‘Parwaaz’ hostel for boys and group living arrangements for girls. Cooking made compulsory for all girls in group living and the youth mentor made a cooking schedule dividing duties of cutting, cleaning and cooking. According to the Youth Mentor, such distribution of all works among all girls helped in stronger bonding between inmates.

In Bangalore also duty charts are made by the girls to display in their living spaces with household duties being shared on rotation basis so that each girl gets to share each household chores with others. Cooking rosters are being prepared by the girls in Bangalore themselves along with weekly menu based on which vegetables are of cheaper prices in that week.

On the contrary in Hyderabad, it was found that sharing of responsibilities have been set up based on capabilities of individuals. Most of the conflicts arisen with the girls who do not want to learn cooking. Hence, few girls in group living in Hyderabad who knows cooking always take responsibility of cooking whereas others clean the rooms and assist in cooking.

Life skills for independent living: experiences and challenges

Rainbow’s “Future” program envisages regular involvement of volunteers from different walks of life to engage with young adults while YAs are still living in the safety of rainbow homes. Volunteer engagements and life skill trainings engaging resource persons from outside are some of such efforts that enable young adults in interacting with people from outside their regular circles. Life skill trainings and interactions with young adults on different social responsibilities help YAs develop their independent living skills and attitudes of taking responsibility, being organized, delivering or completing tasks, being accountable etc. that become handy after YAs start working part-time jobs along with studies post transition from Rainbow. Important independent living skills include, groceries and other essentials, cooking and maintaining a kitchen, budgeting and managing finances and supplies, managing time between studying and other tasks, managing emergencies and illnesses of themselves and inmates in their living spaces after they move out of Rainbow Homes. Difference between staying in care of Rainbow and staying outside independently is that most of the above-mentioned tasks are either handled by home staff themselves or supervised by home staff in cases some responsibilities are assigned to young adults. Whereas post transition young adults are supposed to take all decisions and responsibilities of outside living. There are good practices across cities by Rainbow Homes to help young adults experience independent living and develop important life skills while they are in care of Rainbow, such as, allowing young adults to purchase their own groceries, budgeting of daily expenses, making independent living arrangements within homes etc. However, despite efforts of building independent living skills, the study shows some struggles that are still being faced by the young adults across cities in their independent living spaces. Some of the problems during initial period post transition are:

Good practices by Rainbow to develop independent living skills of YAs

Girls in Sonarpur (one of the group living arrangements in Kolkata) were so much interested to live in a group that they prepared themselves with mock practice of grocery shopping, bargaining with vegetable sellers, and bringing groceries and essentials by hiring a Tempo etc. on their own. They also made chart on the duty roster and budgeted daily expense not to exceed Rs.100 per day well ahead of their move to the group living.

- State Future Manager, Kolkata

In Hyderabad, a 15 –day transition summer camp was organized putting girls of different age groups from different homes within Rainbow Home set ups where they had shared responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, preparing smaller girls for schools, grooming smaller girls etc. Such transition camp helped them understand how to mingle with girls of different mind-sets, what are the practical difficulties in staying with each other and how to resolve conflicts by themselves without any adult support or any intervention from state office/home team. There were incidences of one girl got missing one day where all girls had struggled to find the girl and bring her back. Similar initiative can be helpful for girls to learn important life skills from practical experiences.

- State Program Manager, Hyderabad

Difficulty in finding places for interview/college or entrance examination centre as the girls were not at all familiar with Roads in Kolkata Fear in riding bus or metro alone and cross the roads. Difficulty in depositing and withdrawing money in bank account.