No Easy Way Out: One Community's Efforts to House Families Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Family homelessness is a persistent major social and public health problem. The present study used 3 years of data from a community's homeless management information system in a survival analysis that examined correlates of time to housing for 133 homeless families. A Cox regression found that veterans were 491% more likely to exit homelessness than nonveterans. Families staying with a family member or friend before entering a rapid rehousing program were 24% less likely to exit homelessness than those who were staying in an emergency shelter or other temporary housing. While 77% of the families found stable housing, the findings suggest variability of outcomes across rehousing programs and the necessity of addressing the complex needs of single, female-headed homeless families.

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