1	Introduction and Design Overview

CHAPTER 1 HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction

Overview of the Study Design


Data Collection Approaches


Basic Analytic Categories


Defining Homelessness Status
Specifying Time Frames
Defining Family and Single Status
Defining Alcohol/Drug/Mental Health (ADM) Status
Describing Urban/Rural Location


Statistical Significance of Findings


Confidence Intervals
Statistical Significance of Comparisons
Risk of False Positives


Limitations of NSHAPC Findings


The Study Is Descriptive
The People in the Study Come from Homeless Assistance Programs
NSHAPC Was Designed to Collect Data on Clients Who Use Homeless Assistance Services
All Client Information Comes from the Clients Themselves
What the Study Does Not Do


The Structure of This Report


Additional Information May Be Found in the Technical Report

CHAPTER 2 HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction

Demographic Characteristics of Homeless Clients


Sex
Race/Ethnicity
Age
Marital Status
Education
Veteran Status


The Children of Homeless Clients

Service Needs, Stresses, and Vulnerabilities


Service Needs as Seen by Clients
Food Consumption and Hunger
Victimization while Homeless
Physical Health Status and Insurance
Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Problems
History of Incarceration
Adverse Childhood Experiences


Where Homeless Clients Were Living


Characteristics of Clients Using Different Housing and Other Services


Income, Employment, and Other Income Sources


Income
Paid Employment
Receipt of Government Benefits


History of Homelessness


Clients Who Change Locations after Becoming Homeless


Comparisons of Clients from Central Cities, Suburbs, and Rural Areas

Comparisons with 1987 Urban Institute Findings

3	Comparing Currently with Formerly Homeless Clients and Other Service Users

CHAPTER 3 HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction

Basic Demographic Characteristics


Sex
Race/Ethnicity
Age
Education
Marital and Household Status
Veteran Status


Service Needs, Stresses, and Vulnerabilities


Service Needs as Seen by Clients
Food Consumption and Hunger
Physical Health Status and Insurance
Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Problems
Incarceration
Adverse Childhood Experiences


Income Levels, Sources, and Employment

History of Homelessness

Use of Homeless Assistance Programs


Lifetime Service Use


Urban/Rural Location

4	Homeless Assistance Programs

CHAPTER 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Introduction

Service Locations and Program Types

Service Level and Program Size


Total Number of Expected Service Contacts
Variability in Program Size


Operating Agencies

Funding Sources

Population Focus


Household Type
Special Population or Special Need


Occupancy Levels of Shelter/Housing Programs

Location of Homeless Assistance Programs

Availability of Services within NSHAPC's 76 Sampling Areas


Distribution of Program Contacts within Sampling Areas
Distribution of Services within Sampling Areas by Program Type
Distribution within Sampling Areas of Contacts with Different Types of Shelter/Housing Programs

POSTSCRIPT

APPENDIX A: NSHAPC's PRIMARY SAMPLING AREAS

A1: NSHAPC's Primary Sampling Areas Arrayed Alphabetically within Types
A2: Primary Sampling Areas Sorted by Population Size, in Descending Order

APPENDIX B: NSHAPC PROGRAM DEFINITIONS

REFERENCES