Long-term and chronic homelessness in homeless women and women with children.
The Chronic Homelessness initiative has directed millions of federal dollars to services for single "unaccompanied homeless" individuals, specifically excluding women living with their children. Using a data set with a nationally representative sample of homeless adults, we calculated the prevalence rates and profiles of long-term homelessness in homeless women (n = 849). With the exception of the criterion of being a single "unaccompanied individual," many women, including women with children, met the criteria for chronic homelessness including having a disability of mental health or substance abuse problems. Our findings suggest that the federal definition of chronic homelessness needs to be revised.
Zlotnick
Cheryl
C
Center for the Vulnerable Child, Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland, Oakland, CA, USA. czlotnick@mail.cho.org
Tam
Tammy
T
Bradley
Kimberly
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018453:Homeless Youth / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055815:Young Adult