Relationship of asthma in children to homelessness

1. Relationship of asthma in children to homelessness • Asthma was reported for 27.9% of homeless children in this sample, 3 times the national average. • Children with asthma had been hospitalized more often, • Showed higher levels of inattention/hyperactivity and behavior problems, • and evidenced lower academic functioning. (J.J. Cutuli, MAa, Janette E. Herbers, MAa, Maria Rinaldi, MS, MPHb, Ann S. Masten, PhDa, Charles N. Oberg, MD, MPHb (a Institute of Child Development b Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota)Asthma and Behavior in Homeless 4- to 7-Year-Olds, Pediatrics 2010;125;145-151)

2. 0 Homelessness in Minnesota:How are the children? Pediatric Grand Rounds University of Minnesota June 30, 2010 Presented by Greg Owen, Ph.D. Consulting Scientist, Wilder Research

3. Background: The Minnesota statewide survey of homelessness Homelessness in Minnesota

4. 0 One-night counts and estimates Total estimate Total count Count of children with parents 889 wilderresearch.org

5. Adult females age 22 or older 23% Children with their parents 34% Adult males age 22 or older 30% Unaccompanied minors age 12-17 2% Unaccompanied young adults age 18-21 11% wilderresearch.org

6. Ages of children, including unaccompanied minors Age 13-17 Age 0-5 Age 6-12 wilderresearch.org

7. Homelessness in Minnesota What’s new

8. Key findings • Significant increase in homeless population • More people homeless for at least one year • Decreased employment and income wilderresearch.org

9. Adults: Employment Any employment 35+ hours per week wilderresearch.org

10. Key findings (continued) • Increased use of food stamps; other service use remains high • Increase in homelessness greatest among unaccompanied youth (age 12-21) wilderresearch.org

11. Unaccompanied youth… • Largest growth among 18 - 21 (57%) • Shelter capacity for youth relatively unchanged since 2003 • Largest increase in shelter turnaways occurred among youth wilderresearch.org

12. … slightly less severity Slight drop from 2006 study in percent of unaccompanied youth reporting: • Serious mental illness (46% vs. 49%) • Out of home placement (64% vs. 70%) • Physical or sexual abuse (45% vs. 51%) • Slept outside in October (24% vs. 29%) wilderresearch.org

13. Homelessness in Minnesota What persists

14. Key findings • Racial disparities • Multiple health issues • Barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing • Domestic violence among women and children • History of placement or incarceration wilderresearch.org

15. Racial disparities wilderresearch.org

16. None of these disabilities: 1,557 (26%) Serious mental illness 3,250 (55%) Chronic health conditions 2,761 (46%) Substance abuse disorder 1,385 (23%) 0 Adults: Health issues wilderresearch.org

17. Adults: High incarceration rates Adults ever in corrections facilities Adults released in last 2 years wilderresearch.org

18. Adults: Other placements 58% have had at least one social service placement including… • Drug or alcohol treatment facility (36%) • Foster or group home (26%) • Half-way house (23%) • Mental health treatment facility (20%) wilderresearch.org

19. Unaccompanied minors: Previous placements 61% have been in a social service or corrections placement, including… • Foster home (34%) • Mental health treatment center (20%) • Group home (19%) • Juvenile corrections for more than a week (36%) 27% have run from a placement (vs. 32% in 2006) wilderresearch.org

20. Homelessness in Minnesota Homeless children and families

21. Nomenclature for today • “Children” • Ages 0-17, with parents • “Minors” • Age 12-17, on their own wilderresearch.org

22. More women have children with them • 55% of homeless women • 7% of homeless men wilderresearch.org

23. Who homeless children are with No parent 9% Two parents 19% Mother only 67% Father only 5% wilderresearch.org

24. Parents: Racial disparities wilderresearch.org

25. Where homeless children were counted Unsheltered 1% Battered women 9% Informal arrangement 12% Emergency shelter 19% Transitional housing 59% wilderresearch.org

26. Health care and other needs of children with parents Homelessness in Minnesota

27. Health care needs of children with parents Percent of parents who could not get needed care for their children in past year: • Dental care (12%) • Physical health care (8%) • Mental health care (3%) wilderresearch.org

28. Other health related needs Percent of parents who report at least one child with a chronic or severe problem: • Emotional or behavioral health (21%) • Physical health (13%) wilderresearch.org

29. 0 Parents: Health issues None of these disabilities: 573 (33%) Serious mental illness 863 (49%) Chronic health conditions 727 (42%) Substance abuse disorder 189 (11%) wilderresearch.org wilderresearch.org

30. Mothers: Domestic violence • 46% stayed in an abusive relationship because no other housing • 52% physically or sexually abused as child or youth • 11% in battered women’s shelters • 30% fleeing domestic violence (over half have children with them) wilderresearch.org

31. Minors: Violence • 38% physically abused • 47% girls/ 26% boys • 20% sexually abused • 32% girls / 4% boys • 27% stayed in an abusive situation because no other housing • 32% girls / 22% boys wilderresearch.org

32. Other needs of children Percent of parents who report: • Unable to get regular child care when needed in past year (34%) • Children had to skip meals in past month (8%) wilderresearch.org

33. School problems of children Percent of parents who report at least one school-age child… • Had repeated a grade (19%) • Has a learning difficulty or other school related problem (38%) • Has trouble going to school because of housing situation (11%) • 4% transitional housing (N=471) • 17% emergency shelter (N=177) • 36% informal arrangements (N=73) wilderresearch.org

34. School attendance on day of survey • 84% of parents said all their children attended • 59% of unaccompanied youth attended wilderresearch.org

35. History of homelessness Homelessness in Minnesota wilderresearch.org

36. Where parents last had regular housing Another country <.05% Saint Paul 16% Another state 29% Minneapolis 26% Greater Minnesota 18% Other metro 11% wilderresearch.org

37. Most have lived in Minnesota at least 2 years • 72% of parents • 33% of the rest have lived here before • 81% of unaccompanied minors • 71% of the rest have lived here before wilderresearch.org

38. Parents: Reasons for leaving last housing • 46% couldn’t afford rent / house payments • 37% lost job / hours cut • 36% evicted or lease not renewed • 30% broke up with spouse / partner • 24% abused by someone in the home Same top 4 as for non-parent adults wilderresearch.org

39. Parents who were homeless as children wilderresearch.org

40. Parents: Age of first homelessness 0-12 13% 22+ 46% 13-17 21% 18-21 20% wilderresearch.org

41. Homelessness in Minnesota Prospects for re-housing

42. Parents: What prevents re-housing now Factors most often cited by parents: • 68% lack of a job or income • 45% lack of affordable housing • 30% credit problems • 22% bad rental history / eviction wilderresearch.org

43. Minors: What prevents re-housing now Factors most often cited by unaccompanied minors: • 64% age • 62% lack of a job or income • 38% lack of affordable housing • 19% no local rental history wilderresearch.org

44. Prospects for becoming re-housed • On waiting list for a housing voucher • 65% of parents (average wait 13 months) • 36% of single adults (8 months) • 15% of unaccompanied minors (3.5 months) • Could not get on waiting list (it was closed) • 16% of parents • 12% of single adults • 6% of unaccompanied minors wilderresearch.org

45. To obtain reports: As they are prepared, reports are posted on our web site: www.wilderresearch.org 0 wilderresearch.org wilderresearch.org