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 % of cities turned families away from emergency shelters due to lack of resources. Source: US Conference of Mayors, 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): 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):

Young Mothers 26% of family homeless population is 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

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