<![CDATA[Background: Economic empowerment of social housing residents is essential for sustaining housing programs for low-income communities. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the implementation of existing training programs, identify residents’ needs and barriers, and formulate a soft skills and hard skills training design for Transit Apartment residents in West Java Province. Methods: A descriptive qualitative approach was applied at the Batujajar and Rancaekek Transit Apartments, involving 31 residents, 2 apartment managers, and 2 community empowerment staff members selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation, and analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. Results: The implemented training improved residents’ knowledge, skills, and entrepreneurial motivation but had not yet produced sustainable economic independence because of limited business capital, market access, post-training mentoring, and uneven participation. This study formulates the Penta Participatory Apatrans model, which is built on a participatory needs assessment and integrates five main components: soft skills strengthening, hard skills development, continuous mentoring, business network strengthening, and pentahelix collaboration among government, academia, business, community, and media. Conclusion: The model provides a needs-based, participatory training design that contributes to the sustainable economic empowerment of Transit Apartment residents and offers practical guidance for social housing managers.]]>
