Characteristics and Dynamics of Homeless Families with Children

Final Report

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
Office of Human Services Policy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Fall 2007

Authors:
Debra J. Rog, Ph.D., C. Scott Holupka, Ph.D., and Lisa C. Patton, Ph.D.

Prepared by:
WESTAT

Contract No: 233-02-0087 TO14

This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/homelessness/improving-data08/

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapters

1. INTRODUCTION  (in PDF format - 6 pages)
   1. Introduction
2. LITERATURE REVIEW  (in PDF format - 22 pages)
   1. Building on the Existing Knowledge Base
   2. Demographic and Background Characteristics of Homeless Families
   3. Service Needs, Access, and Utilization Patterns of Homeless Mothers: Health, Mental Health, Trauma, and Substance Use
   4. Service Needs, Access, and Utilization Patterns of Homeless Children
   5. Developing a Typology of Homeless Families
   6. Summary of Implications From the Literature Review
3. OUTCOMES OF EXPERT PANEL  (in PDF format - 16 pages)
   1. Expert Panel Overview
   2. Factors Considered for Inclusion in a Typology of Homeless Families
   3. Types of Studies That Could Best Inform a Typology
   4. Potential Problems to Anticipate in Developing a Typology
   5. Summary and Discussion of Literature Review
   6. Summary and Discussion of Prospects for Secondary Analysis
   7. Summary of and Feedback on Commissioned Papers
      1. Paper Title: Toward a Typology of Homeless Families: Conceptual and Methodological Issues
         Authors: Thomas Babor and Rene Jahiel
      2. Paper Title: Permanent Housing for Homeless Families: A Review of Opportunities and Impediments
         Authors: Jill Khadduri and Bulbul Kaul
      3. Paper Title: The Impact of Homelessness on Children: An Analytic Review of the Literature
         Author: John Buckner
      4. Paper Title: Homelessness and At-Risk Families: The Characteristics and Causes of Homelessness Among At Risk Families With Children in Twenty American Cities
         Authors: David Reingold and Angela Fertig
   8. Directions for Typology Development
4. PROSPECTS FOR SECONDARY ANALYSIS  (in PDF format - 22 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Identification of Potential Data Sets
   3. Review of Data Sets
   4. Summary
5. A REANALYSIS OF THE FRAGILE FAMILIES AND CHILD WELL-BEING STUDY  (in PDF format - 19 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Methodology
   3. Descriptive Analyses and Results
   4. Predicting Residential Stability and Homelessness
   5. Discussion
6. PROSPECTS FOR ENHANCING FEDERAL SURVEYS  (in PDF format - 26 pages)
   1. Introduction
   2. Overview of National Survey Efforts
   3. Review of Cross-Sectional Surveys
   4. Review of Longitudinal Studies
   5. Proposed Housing Questions
7. OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL PRIMARY DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS  (in PDF format - 20 pages)
   1. Background
   2. Proposed Study Options
   3. Option 1: Longitudinal Study of Homeless Families
   4. Option 2: Homeless Management Information System
   5. Option 3: Examining Efforts to Prevent Homelessness
8. BEGINNING TO CONCEPTUALIZE A TYPOLOGY: IMPLICATIONS  (in PDF format - 10 pages)
   1. Conclusions
   2. The Need for Multiple Typologies
   3. Summary

Appendices

1. Impact of Homelessness on Children: An Analytic Review of the Literature  (in PDF format - 38 pages)
2. Toward a Typology of Homeless Families: Conceptual and Methodological Issues  (in PDF format - 41 pages)
3. Permanent Housing for Homeless Families: A Review of Opportunities and Impediments  (in PDF format - 39 pages)
4. The Characteristics and Causes of Homelessness Among At Risk Families with Children in Twenty American Cities  (in PDF format - 22 pages)
5. Fragile Families Data Set  (in PDF format - 17 pages)
6. Bibliography  (in PDF format - 10 pages)

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the numerous people who supported or provided assistance with this report. In particular, the authors wish to thank the members of the Expert Panel who provided guidance on the conceptualization of the typology.

• Thomas Babor, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor and Chairman, Community Medicine and Health Care, University of Conneticut School of Medicine.
• John Buckner, Ph.D., Research Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Boston
• Martha Burt, Ph.D., Program Director and Principal Research Associate, Urban Institute
• Dennis Culhane, Ph.D., Professor of Social Welfare Policy, School of Social Work, University of Pennsylvania
• Angela Fertig, Ph.D., Public Service Faculty, Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia
• Jill Khadduri, Ph.D., Principal Associate, Abt Associates, Inc.
• Paul Koegel, Ph.D., Associate Director, RAND Health, RAND Corporation
• David Reingold, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indianan University Bloomington

Additional information regarding this project can be obtained from the Federal Project Officers: Anne Fletcher (202-690-5729, anne.fletcher @ hhs.gov) and Laura Radel (690-5938, laura.radel @ hhs.gov).

How to Obtain a Printed Copy

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You may also print the PDF version (334 pages).

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Last updated: 03/13/2008