This infographic shows that, in the United States, infancy is the age at which individuals are most likely to enter shelter or transitional housing, followed by ages one to five, and homelessness during pregnancy and in the early years is harmful to children’s development. Given the research showing the importance of addressing early childhood homelessness, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Education created an interagency policy statement on early childhood homelessness. This statement recommends ways early childhood and housing providers at the local and state levels can collaborate to better meet the needs of pregnant women and families with young children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
1 Gubits, D., Shinn M., Bell S., Wood M., Dstrup S., Solari, C…Abt Associates, Inc.. (2015, July). Family options study: Short-term impacts of housing and services interventions for homeless families. Washington, D.C.: Prepared for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Policy Development and Research by Abt. Associates and Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/portal/sites/default/files/private/pdf/FamilyOptionsStudy_final.pdf
2 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development. (2016, October). The 2015 annual homeless assessment report (AHAR) to Congress: Part 2: Estimates of homelessness in the United States. Washington, DC: Solari, C., Morris, S., Shivji, A., & de Souza, T. Retrieved from https://www.hudexchange.info/resource/5162/2015-ahar-part-2-estimates-of-homelessness/
3 Center for Housing Policy and Children’s Health Watch. (2015, June). Compounding stress: The timing and duration effects of homelessness on children’s health. Sandel, M., Sheward, R., & Sturtevant, L. Retrieved from http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Compounding-Stress_2015.pdf
4 Richards, R., Merrill, R. M., Baksh, L., & McGarry, J. (2011). Maternal health behaviors and infant health outcomes among homeless mothers: US Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 2000–2007. Preventive Medicine, 52(1), 87-94.
5 Stein, J. A., Lu, M. C., & Gelberg, L. (2000). Severity of homelessness and adverse birth outcomes. Health Psychology, 19(6), 524. Richards, R., Merrill, R. M., Baksh, L., & McGarry, J. (2011). Maternal health behaviors and infant health outcomes among homeless mothers: US Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 2000–2007. Preventive Medicine, 52(1), 87-94.