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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Housing and Services: Challenges and Opportunities