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Katie Blair House of Norwich is a transitional residence where a homeless, single woman, can live from six months to two years in order to prepare.for independent living. The Katie Blair approach combines three elements: provision of a safe, stable, home setting; a program that combines structured living with the pursuit of individually chosen program goals; and the supportive presence of a committed community of staff, volunteers, and program participants. From its opening in October 1990 through September 1993, the house has welcomed 25 residents. This thesis focuses on the experience of the 14 women who remained in the program from four months to two years. Specifically, this thesis attempts to assess whether these women have been personally empowered by their participation in the Katie Blair House program and, if so, in which ways their personal characteristics, the program itself, and the community have contributed to that result. This thesis is developed in seven parts. Part I draws upon pertinent literature to establish criteria to be used in describing/defining the process of individual empowerment. The description of empowerment is based on findings of the retrieval conference on "Means of Empowerment in Individuals, Organizations, and Communities" sponsored by the Program of Conflict Management Alternatives at the University of Michigan in May 1989: Empowerment on the individual level involves the ability to act in an efficacious manner, i.e., to make and implement decisions that meet one's needs (p.7). Conference participants further observed, "This process begins with a change in attitudes, beliefs, and values and ends by acting on these new beliefs" (p. 13). In naming attitudes that enable one to reach this goal, the criteria identified by Anton Antonovsky (1987) were selected. This paper is structured around a personalized translation of these criteria: I can figure it out; I can handle it; it's worth the effort. A woman's ability to achieve this outlook depends on three elements: (1) her potential; (2) the program; (3) the community. Parts two, three and four examine these elements. Part II provides an overview of applicants to the Katie Blair House - their demographic profiles and the personal issues they brought to the program. In Part III the author describes personal characteristics of participants that influence the empowerment process, while part IV examines what the program contributes to the empowerment process. In summary, the program provides a philosophy and a structure to assist a women in "figuring things out," resources and guidance to show her how to "handle it," and the support of the community to assure her that the effort is, indeed, "worth it. II Part V describes the responsibilities and personal characteristics of the staff and volunteers. Staffing choices over the first three years have helped to define "supportive community." Part VI examines the case histories of four individuals who represent the diverse characteristics of program participants. Together they provide insight into the community's role in individual empowerment. Finally, in Part VII, the thesis considers the reflections of program participants as to how the program achieves its purpose