The Prevention of Homelessness Revisited

Abstract

Conceptual and methodological problems plague efforts to prevent homelessness. Attempts to identify individuals at risk are inefficient, targeting many people who will not become homeless for each person who will. Such interventions may do useful things for needy people, but evidence that they prevent homelessness is scant. Subsidized housing, with or without supportive services, has ended homelessness for families and played a key role in ending it for people with serious mental illnesses. Other risk factors may be less important once housing is secured. But programs that allocate scarce housing may simply reallocate homelessness, determining who goes to the head of the line for housing, not shortening the line itself. We recommend reorienting homelessness prevention from work with identified at-risk persons to efforts to increase the supply of affordable housing and sustainable sources of livelihood nationwide or in targeted communities.Anyone who has passed a person sleeping in a doorway, seen a family with belongings heaped in a shopping cart, observed makeshift dwellings under a the organizers of the symposium for their insightful comments on earlier versions of this article. 95

A Longitudinal Analysis of Violence and Housing Insecurity

“…While studies have identified many characteristics that increase the general risks of housing problems, they have been less successful in predicting specific transitions to or from housing insecurity (Shinn et al, 2001). Recognising the unpredictability of homelessness episodes, O'Flaherty (2004;2010) hypothesised that homelessness results mainly from badluck shocks striking vulnerable people.…”

Housing First: Considering Components for Successful Resettlement of Homeless People with Multiple Needs

“…To provide universal access to Housing First may be untenably expensive, however by not doing so the problems that it is intended to address continue to be allowed to fester among all but the most severely in need. Prevention of these problems at entry point may be a greater use of resources for the future (Shinn & Baumohl, 1999). Further research and economic analysis is needed to provide ground on which to widen the debate.…”

“…Returning to US work this point was succinctly recognised by Shinn & Baumohl (1999) noting that practitioners should 'remember that preventing homelessness is not identical to ending poverty, curing mental illness, promoting economic self-sufficiency, or making needy people healthy, wealthy and wise'. Rather the goals that are being pursued have to be kept 'clearly in mind' (Shinn & Baumohl, 1999: 13-1).…”

Leren van huisontruimingen

“…Meer publicaties zijn te vinden over de preventie van dakloosheid (Shinn, Baumohl & Hopper, 2001;Crane, Fu & Warnes, 2004;Crane et al, 2006;Backer & Howard, 2007;Burt, Pearson & Montgomer, 2007;Culhane, Metraux & Byrne, 2011). Maar zoals Culhane et al (2011, p. 296) aangeven: " […] there is much about homelessness prevention that still needs to be understood."…”