Predictors of Homelessness

What Causes Homelessness?

"... the most fundamental characteristic shared by the homeless and at-risk population is their extreme poverty. However, the vast majority of extremely poor persons in the United States are not homeless ... extreme poverty is not necessarily the cause of homelessness. Similarly, poor education and weak work experience do not have special impact on whether extremely poor persons become homeless"

What secondary characteristics or events make homelessness more likely?

"... homeless persons have a much higher incidence of a range of secondary characteristics. Determining these secondary characteristics identifies the problems that increase the likelihood of becoming homeless, which is the first step toward developing effective preventive interventions. Moreover, identifying those non-homeless, extremely poor persons who also have these secondary characteristics can make it easier to target cost-cutting preventive assistance to those most at risk of becoming homeless."

Prior homelessness: 35-67% of currently homeless persons have experienced at least one (and often several) prior, separate episodes of homelessness.
Solitary males: single, unattached adult males make up about 70% of the adult homeless population but fewer than 10% of all adults living below the poverty line.
Solitary women with children: about 80% of all homeless families are headed by solitary women.
Unattached youth: being separated from their parents or foster care situation with few resources, there is a strong likelihood these youth will end up homeless or at risk.
Mental illness: about one-third of the homeless adults have spent time in a mental institution.
Alcohol and other drug problems: about one-third or more of homeless adults suffer from chronic alcohol problems and 10-20% have other drug dependency problems.
Health problems: more than 25% of the homeless population are too disabled to work and about 40% report themselves in poor health, compared to 20% of the U.S. poor.
Institutional histories: homeless and most-at-risk persons are much more likely than the extremely poor who have never experienced homelessness to have a history of mental hospitalization, inpatient treatment for alcohol and other drug problems, foster care, or time spent in jail or prison.
Weak support networks: homeless and most-at-risk persons have far less extensive or helpful support networks of family and friends who might provide them with housing or other assistance.

At-Risk Groups

welfare-to-work recipients
single female headed households
youth aging out of Foster Care
persons who have previously been homeless
individuals paying more than 50% of their income for housing (including utilities)