The purpose of this study is to understand the experiences and perspectives of the self-reliance program participants through a longitudinal qualitative study from 2006 to 2012. Based on Grounded theory approach, it examines how participants managed their lives up to now status. Through open-coding process, 181 meanings were identified. Paradigm model shows that the goal of the self-reliance program can be viewed as causal condition. However, contextual factors such as poverty experiences and child-support affected the self-reliance program participants to adapt and stay in the program rather than actively participate in the market. The finding shows that the meaning of self-reliance are differently understood by policy makers and self-reliance program participants.