title: Homelessness in rural areas: causes, patterns, and trends.
abstract: Although homelessness in urban areas has been examined extensively, little attention has been given to the problem of homelessness in rural areas. This article reports the findings from a 1990 statewide study of rural homelessness funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. During the six-month data collection period, 919 homeless adults were interviewed; 247 were heading family units, and 480 children were in these families. More than two-thirds of these families were headed by single parents. Implications of the findings for providing short-term emergency assistance and longer-term policy-making are presented.
authors.affiliation: Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: First
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rife
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Toomey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011640:Public Policy; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015406:Single Parent / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012947:Social Work / Q000639:trends*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology