Method: A descriptive phenomenological design was used to discover participants' meanings of their experiences. A purposive sample of 8 HTM participated in the study. The participants were between 18-19 years of age and were of African-American and Hispanic ethnicity. Each mother was interviewed once and the interviews were transcribed verbatim. The procedural guidelines of Colazzai (1978) were used to analyze the data.

Results: Six themes emerged from the in-depth interviews. 1) Reasons for Being Homeless: The HTM recounted the events, such as conflicts with family members and boyfriends, that led to them becoming homeless with their children. 2) Regretting Choices:The HTM blamed themsleves for making the "wrong choices" in life that led to them being homeless. 3)"It's Stressful": The HTM revealed that caring for children while living in a shelter was stressful. 4) "Acting Out": They shared stories of how their children's behavior worsened since moving to the shelter. 5) Conflict: In additon to the other stressors that they faced at the shelter, the HTM frequently had conflicts with other mothers in the shelter. 6) Avoiding the Shelter: To counteract the stressors in the shelter environment, the HTM recounted that they avoided being in the shelter whenever possible.

Conclusions: This study shed light on HTM experiences of caring for their children while living in a shelter. Nurses working with homeless families may help these mothers by providing support and referring homeless adolescent mothers to the appropriate resources for assistance in dealing with their multiple stressors and any mental health issues. Nurses can also be a referral source for resources that will aid in finding stable housing for HTM and their children.

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