Pathways into adult homelessness

Abstract

This article uses information from a large administrative database (N = 3941) to outline five ideal typical pathways into adult homelessness. The pathways are called 'housing crisis', 'family breakdown', 'substance abuse', 'mental health' and 'youth to adult'. Then we explain why people on some pathways remain homeless for longer than others. People on a housing crisis or family breakdown pathway do not form strong friendships in the homeless subculture or accept homelessness as a way of life. Their homelessness is shorter. In contrast, people on the substance abuse and youth to adult pathways often become involved in the homeless subculture and engage in social practices that make it difficult to exit from homelessness. Their homelessness is longer. People on the mental health pathway also experience long-term homelessness, but they do not endorse homelessness as a way of life. They remain homeless because they have few exit options.

The Prevalence of Rough Sleeping and Sofa Surfing Amongst Young People in the UK

“…It is possible that by avoiding formal homeless provision young people also avoid becoming part of the 'culture of homelessness' (Chamberlain & Johnson, 2013;Ravenshill, 2008), and thereby avoid some of the other problems associated with homelessness and street lifestyles.…”

“…The Housing First approach has shown good results throughout Europe (Busch-Geertsema, 2014), and presented a major challenge to the previous linear "treatment first" approach used in the United States (Johnsen & Teixeira, 2010). It is known that homeless people who suffer mental ill health or substance abuse tend to be homeless for longer than other homeless people, possibly because this leads them to become involved in a 'homeless sub-culture' associated with a street lifestyle to a greater extent than other homeless young people (Chamberlain & Johnson, 2013). The impact of street lifestyle on mental health and substance abuse has also been highlighted (Kidd, 2004;McCay & Aiello, 2013).…”

“…This is particularly problematic with youth homelessness as is very often transient and connected to difficulties in making the transition from child to adult status (Chamberlain & Johnson, 2013;Hutson & Liddiard, 1994). A 2010 review of research (Quilgars, 2010) highlighted a 1998 research by the European Observatory on Homelessness which suggested that youth homelessness may be considered as a faltered or interrupted transition to adulthood which typically happens to vulnerable young people.…”

Homelessness in Romania – Challenges for Research and Policy

“…Yet, in the recent years great emphasis has been placed on the need for longitudinal studies in order to understand the pathways into homelessness and also the trajectories into and out of homelessness. In a recent study (Chamberlain & Johnson 2011), the authors identify five ideal typical routs into adult homelessness: housing crises, family breakdown, substance abuse, mental health and young-to-adult. They also argue that people on different pathways deal differently with the fact that they belong to the homeless sub-culture.…”

Being Homeless and Becoming Housed: The Interplay of Fateful Moments and Social Support in Neo-liberal Context

“…Becoming homeless can be explained through the metaphor of a pathway (Chamberlain & Johnson, 2013;Mallet, Rosenthal & Keys, 2005). For example, unemployment, poverty, housing crisis, family break-down, mental and physical health challenges, substance use, and problematic contact with the child welfare system have been found to lead to homelessness (Belcher & DeForge, 2012;Coates & McKenzie-Mohr, 2010;Chamberlain & Johnson, 2013;Gaetz, 2013;Karabanow, 2008;Thompson, Bender, Windsor, Cook & Williams, 2010). Pathways into homelessness can also differ by gender, race/ethnicity, and Indigeneity (Anderson & Collins, 2014;Tutty, Ogden, Giurgiu & Weaver-Dunlop, 2013.…”