Characteristics and Dynamics of Homeless Families with Children. 7. Options for Additional Primary Data Collection and Analysis

The existing body of literature related to homeless families provides substantial information on the characteristics and service needs of currently homeless mothers and their dependent children but is not robust enough to provide sufficient data with which to develop a typology of homeless families. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this project has employed a step-wise approach to seeking opportunities to collect additional information about homeless families and families at risk of homelessness that could be used in the development of a typology. The first step in the process identified existing major national and multijurisdictional surveys that might yield information through secondary data analysis. A closer analysis of data collected through the Fragile Families study further illuminated additional findings about homeless families and families at risk of homelessness. However, the data were still insufficient to fully inform a typology.

A second step included reviewing ongoing and planned surveys and developing a short battery of housing questions that could be considered for use in future surveys of low-income populations. The third and final step in the process is to identify and develop three separate approaches that Health and Human Services could consider for a future specialized data collection to fill key data gaps with respect to homeless families.

Based on previous chapters and the Expert Panel meeting, three options for future research to inform the typology are proposed (see Table 7-1). First, there remains a need to understand the exits and pathways out of homelessness and subsequent residential patterns. A longitudinal, nationally representative study of first-time homeless families requesting shelter would provide critical information on multiple gaps identified.

The second option is an analysis of Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data from a national sample of communities. The analysis of universal items would provide an understanding of the demographic characteristics of families in and across different regions, while the analysis of program-specific data, if available, would permit an examination of the patterns of service use over time and their relationship to outcomes for subgroups of homeless families.

The third option would be targeted to understanding how best to prevent homelessness, with an examination of existing efforts to triage families, such as in Hennepin County's (Minnesota) Homelessness Prevention program in which they use a risk assessment to make decisions on how to prevent homelessness locally. This option, in many respects, would examine "test runs" of typologies in action in different communities.

¹² This is relevant if the study involves a cohort of multiply homeless families in addition to first-time homeless.

¹³ This can be investigated only if the study is national with sufficient local samples or a set of local studies.

¹⁴ This is relevant only if the study includes a comparable sample of poor families who are at risk of homelessness.

¹⁵ In some communities, the sample would be selected from a central screening center rather than from individual shelters.

¹⁶ The sample, depending on interest, could be expanded to include all families requesting shelter, not just first-timers.

¹⁷ If the study is designed to use HMIS data, then it may make sense to use local Continuum of Care (CoC) as the primary sampling unit. CoC's could further be clustered by geography, location (e.g., rural/urban), and whether they have an operating HMIS system in order to select a final sample.

¹⁸ From Federal Register, July 30, 2004, Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS): Data and Technical Standards of Final Notice, Docket No. FR 4848-N-02.