Homelessness in female-headed families: childhood and adult risk and protective factors.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To identify risk and protective factors for family homelessness, a case-control study of homeless and low-income, never-homeless families, all female-headed, was conducted. METHODS: Homeless mothers (n = 220) were enrolled from family shelters in Worcester, Mass. Low-income housed mothers receiving welfare (n = 216) formed the comparison group. The women completed an interview covering socioeconomic, social support, victimization, mental health, substance use, and health domains. RESULTS: Childhood predictors of family homelessness included foster care placement and respondent's mother's use of drugs. Independent risk factors in adulthood included minority status, recent move to Worcester, recent eviction, interpersonal conflict, frequent alcohol or heroin use, and recent hospitalization for a mental health problem. Protective factors included being a primary tenant, receiving cash assistance or a housing subsidy, graduating from high school, and having a larger social network. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that compromise an individual's economic and social resources are associated with greater risk of losing one's home.

Food insecurity and housing instability in vulnerable families

“…did not pay utility bills on time and got disconnected) (Corcoran et al 1999;Heflin 2006). Households experiencing material hardships are at higher risk of housing instability and homelessness (Bassuk et al 1997;Fertig and Reingold 2008;Lee et al 2010). For example, a household often late on paying utility bills may be more likely to be behind on subsequent rent payments, which may lead to eviction.…”

A Longitudinal Analysis of Violence and Housing Insecurity

“…With respect to structural circumstances, research points to the deinstitutionalisation of the mentally ill (Jencks, 1994), limited availability of low-cost housing (Burt, 1991;, and low levels of economic activity and opportunities (Burt, 1991;Gould & Williams, 2010) as contributors. Background risk factors include being a victim of violence or abuse as a youth (Baron, 2003;Bassuk et al, 2001;Burt et al, 2001;Caton et al, 2005;Herman et al, 1997), having a parent who was incarcerated (Shelton et al, 2009) or used drugs (Bassuk et al, 1997), growing up in poverty (Koegel et al, 1995), spending time in foster care (Burt et al, 2001;Shelton et al, 2009), and poor mental health in childhood (Shelton et al, 2009). …”

Intimate Partner Violence and Lifetime Trauma

“…Intimate partner violence, itself, is often a precipitant to homelessness. 22,39,40 Moreover, intimate partner violence presents particular risks for individuals with serious mental illness. Exposure to ongoing abuse can exacerbate symptoms and precipitate mental health crises, making it more difficult to access resources and increasing abusers' control over their lives.…”

“…In one study, the lifetime prevalence of severe physical or sexual assault among very low-income women was found to be 84%; 63% of those studied had been physically assaulted as children, 40% had been sexually assaulted as children, and 60% had been physically assaulted by an intimate partner. 22 Similarly, studies conducted in welfare to work programs have documented lifetime rates of intimate partner abuse ranging from 55% to 65% [23][24][25][26] , as opposed to rates of 20% found in random population samples. 27 * This is an excerpt from Warshaw, C., Brashler, P., and Gill, J.…”