The Dynamics of Homelessness

1
The Dynamics of Homelessness the Impact of
Supportive Housing on Services Use CostsWhat
is Known about Families

• Stephen Metraux, Ph.D.
• University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

2
Risk Factors for Repeat Extended Shelter Stays
Among Families

• Positive Effects
•  
• Black Race
• Increased Number of Children
• Increased Age of Householder
• History of Previous Homelessness
• Increased Number of Adults
• Mother with History of Foster Care
• Mothers Lower Education
• Mothers Limited Work Experience

• Negative Effects
•  
• Receipt of Housing Subsidy
• Pregnancy
• Domestic Violence
• 93 of Families in NYC Receiving a Housing
  Subsidy upon Exit, Do Not Return (Shinn
  Weitzman, 1999 Metraux Culhane 1999 Wong,
  Culhane Kuhn, 1997.)
• See Wong (1998), for summary.

3
Families Have Longer Shelter Stays than Single
Adults
(Median Lengths of Stay)
4
Number of Homeless Families is Increasing
NYC Mean Daily Census (NYC Dept. of Homeless
Services 2003)
5
Homeless Families Have High Levels of Child
Welfare System Involvement

• In Philadelphia, 37 of sheltered homeless
  families had a child welfare case over a 5-year
  period (Culhane et al., 2003)
• In NYC, 21 of homeless families had a child
  welfare case either upon shelter entry or within
  2 years after exit

6
Cost of Services

• In NYC
• 30,000-40,000 annual cost to shelter a family
• 13,000-40,000 annual cost for an out-of-home
  child placement
• 12,000 annual cost for housing in supportive
  housing
• 3,000 to 10,000 annual cost for services in
  supportive housing
• (New York City Task Force on Housing Services
  for Families 2003)

7
Supportive Housing Child Welfare Expenditures
Hennepin County, MN

• Follows 43 homeless families with active child
  welfare caseloads placed in supportive housing
• Tracks child welfare-related costs in the 6-month
  periods prior and subsequent to housing placement
• Does not include other costs for services nor the
  supportive housing costs covered by other funding
  streams

Hennepin County Children, Family Adult Services
2003
8
Supportive Housing Child Welfare Expenditures
for 43 Families in Hennepin County, MN
9
Components of a More Comprehensive Cost Study

• Inclusion of a control group
• Use of longer study periods (pre post)
• Quantify more comprehensive supportive housing
  costs (Section 8, HUD Shelter Care, etc.)
• Assess and quantify a wider range of services
  used (shelter, child welfare, TANF, school,
  Medicaid, etc.)