Long-Term and Chronic Homelessness in Homeless Women and Women With Children

Abstract

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Homelessness
• mental illness
• substance abuse
• family
• children

Notes

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Martha Burt, PhD, and Linda Weinreb, MD, in reviewing the manuscript. This study was funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Substance Abuse Policy and Research Program No. 52826.

Note. *p < .001.

^aSeven respondents are missing data.

Note. *p < .001

**p < .01.