Objectives.- To analyse the impact of different variables on repeated episodes of homelessness. Method.- The study was conducted based on data obtained from a representative sample of homeless people in Madrid (Spain) (n = 188). Results.- Suffering from a serious or chronic illness has an effect on the revolving door to homelessness, which is mediated by a highly negative subjective perception of the individual's own health, which is in turn mediated by suffering from a disability. Excessive alcohol consumption has an effect on the revolving door to homelessness, mediated by access to treatment for problems caused by alcohol consumption. Suffering from a serious or chronic illness correlates with having problems caused by excessive alcohol consumption. Experiencing multiple stressful life events has a direct effect on the revolving door to homelessness. Conclusions.- To prevent the revolving door to homelessness, it is necessary to remove the barriers that hinder access to normal health resources which are experienced by people suffering from social exclusion, while implementing ongoing support programmes for homeless people or those at risk of homelessness, which primarily deal with health issues.

People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) at some point in their lives; these SLEs are crucial for understanding the etiology and maintenance of homelessness. This study analyses the differences between men and women experiencing homelessness in the suffering of SLEs throughout their lives (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood). The sample consisted of a group of 293 people experiencing homelessness in Madrid (Spain): 156 men and 137 women. The results suggest that the number and type of SLEs experienced by men and women are different. In general, women experiencing homelessness suffer more SLEs than men in all periods of their lives. The differences in the level of sexual violence in childhood, sexual abuse in adulthood, and abuse by a spouse or partner are particularly striking. However, men experiencing homelessness score significantly higher than women for alcohol abuse, police complaints, arrest, and imprisonment throughout their lives. These findings have significant implications for the design of interventions and social policies that should be tailored to the specific needs of men and women who are homeless.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders adapted for homeless women (UPHW). Eighty-one homeless women participated in this single-blinded quasi-experimental clinical trial, involving up to 12 sessions of group treatment, and 3-and 6-month follow-ups. The participants received either immediate treatment with the UPHW ( n = 46) or delayed treatment, following a 12-week wait-list control period (WLC; n = 35). Primary outcomes included depression and anxiety. Secondary measures comprised positive and negative affect, psychological well-being, health perception, and social support. The UPHW resulted in significant improvement on measures of anxiety, depression and negative affect. Improvements in anxiety and depression were maintained over a 3-month follow-up period, but not at 6-month. The reliability of the clinical changes showed significant differences between UPHW and WLC for depression. Moreover, the inter-session assessment in the UPHW group showed a linear trend reduction for depression and anxiety scores along the 12 sessions. The clinical implications on the UPHW in social settings are also discussed.

Purpose: Several studies have revealed that homeless people suffering from mental health problems are more vulnerable than homeless without those mental health problems. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence describing the real circumstances of homeless women. This paper explores the differences between homeless women at high risk of mental ill-health compared to those who do not present this risk. Method: The sample consisted of a group of 120 homeless women in Madrid (Spain). For this study, we collected data on background information (trajectory of homelessness and stressful life events experienced) and current aspects (living conditions, physical health and social support). The risk of mental ill-health has been measured by the short version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). Results: The results showed that homeless women with higher risk of mental ill-health had become homeless at a younger age, had experienced more stressful life events in their lives, had a poorer physical health, felt less happy, had less social support and a greater feeling of loneliness when compared to homeless women who did not present risk of mental ill-health. Conclusions: Improving knowledge about the risk of mental ill-health among homeless women is essential for the design of specific psychological interventions within this population.

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