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Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services

Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference February 9, 2007. Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services. Research Overview Katie Volk, MA. Who Are Homeless Families?. Mother with two children.

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Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services

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  1. Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference February 9, 2007

  2. Young Mothers: Targeting Housing and Services Research Overview Katie Volk, MA

  3. Who Are Homeless Families? • Mother with two children. • 42% of sheltered children under 6 years old. • 43% African-American; 38% White, non Hispanic; 15% Hispanic; 3% Native American. Burt, M. & Aron, L. (2000). America’s Homeless II: Populations and Services (Washington, DC: The Urban Institute).

  4. Homeless Mothers • 53% without a high school diploma. • Minimum wage jobs with no benefits or flexibility. • Mean income 46% of poverty level. Burt, M, Aron, L., Douglas, T. et al. (1999). Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve. Urban Institute.

  5. Many Homeless Families Are Hidden • Unsheltered families include: • Doubled up • In campgrounds, cars, parks • Hotels/motels • 29% of shelter requests by families went unmet in 2006. • 86% of cities turned families away from emergency shelters due to lack of resources. Source: US Conference of Mayors, 2006. US Conference of Mayors. (2004). Hunger and Homelessness Survey 2004.

  6. Homelessness and Trauma:Mothers’ Experiences • Homelessness is traumatic. • 92% experience severe physical and/or sexual abuse in their lifetime. Homeless Children: America’s New Outcasts (1999). Newton Centre, MA: The National Center on Family Homelessness.

  7. Impact of Homelessness and Trauma Homeless mothers have: • Three times the rate of PTSD (36%) • Twice the rate of drug and alcohol dependence (41%) • Twice the rate of major depressive disorders (45%) Bassuk, E.L., Buckner, J., Perloff, J., & Bassuk, S. (1998). Prevalence of mental health and substance abuse disorders among homeless and low-income housed mothers. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 155(1): 1561-1564. Bassuk, E.L., Weinreb, L., Buckner, J. , et al. (1996). The characteristics and needs of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothers. JAMA, 276(8): 640-646.

  8. Young Mothers • 26% of family homeless population is 17-24 years old. (1) • One-third who exit shelter likely to become homeless again within 10 years. (2) (1): Burt, M, Aron, L., Douglas, T. et al. (1999). Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve. Urban Institute. (2): Smith N et al. Understanding family homelessness in NYC. Vera Institute of Justice. 2005.

  9. Homelessness and Foster Care • Overrepresentation in homeless population. • Those with a foster care history tend to become homeless at an earlier age than those who do not have a foster care history. (1) • Childhood placement in foster care can correlate with a substantial increase in the length of a person's homeless experience. (1) (1): Roman, N. and Wolfe, P. (1995). Web of Failure: The Relationship Between Foster Care and Homelessness. Washington, DC: National Alliance to End Homelessness.

  10. Housing and Services: Challenges and Opportunities

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