Housing patterns and correlates of homelessness differ by gender among individuals using San Francisco free food programs.
Homeless individuals experience high rates of morbidity and mortality, yet many homeless studies include small percentages of female participants. We therefore sought to determine correlates of homelessness separately for men and women in a sample of individuals visiting free food programs. Between August 2003 and April 2004, 324 individuals were recruited from San Francisco free food programs and interviewed regarding housing, sociodemographics, health, drug use, sex trade, and incarceration. Over one-half of women and almost three-fourths of men reported homelessness in the prior year. Among women, white race, younger age, not living with minor children, engaging in sex trade and recent incarceration were strongly associated with homelessness; however, only incarceration maintained the strong association in adjusted analysis (OR = 7.16, CI = 3.83-13.4). Among men, heavy alcohol use, drug use, years spent living in San Francisco and monthly income were strongly associated with homelessness; however, only years living in San Francisco (OR = 0.28, CI = 0.19-0.42) and monthly income maintained strong association in adjusted analysis (OR = 0.27, CI = 0.13-0.57). Housing patterns and the strongest correlates of homelessness among individuals visiting free food programs differ by sex. These results suggest the need to characterize homelessness and develop effective homeless interventions separately for men and women.
Riley
Elise D
ED
San Francisco General Hospital, Epidemiology and Prevention Interventions Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. eriley@epi-center.ucsf.edu
Weiser
Sheri D
SD
Sorensen
James L
JL
Dilworth
Samantha
S
Cohen
Jennifer
J
Neilands
Torsten B
TB
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006798:Housing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology