Toward an International Understanding of Homelessness

Toro, Paul A.

doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2007.00519.x

Cited by 151 publications

(131 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(97 reference statements)

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“…Whilst other scholars have put forward similar hypotheses (Shinn, 2007;Toro, 2007), these hypotheses have not yet been fully tested.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Testing a Typology of Homelessness Across Welfare Regimes: Shelter Use in Denmark and the USA

Benjaminsen

Andrade

2015

Housing Studies

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This article compares patterns of homeless shelter use in Denmark and the USA. Combining data from homeless shelters in Denmark with population registers, we find that the prevalence of shelter use is substantially lower in Denmark than in the USA. A cluster analysis of shelter stays identifies three types of users similar to findings from US research: the transitionally, episodically and chronically homeless. However, the transitionally homeless in Denmark have a higher tendency of suffering from mental illness and substance abuse than the transitionally homeless in the USA. The results support Stephens and Fitzpatrick' hypothesis that countries with more extensive welfare systems and lower levels of poverty have lower levels of homelessness, mainly amongst those with complex support needs, whereas in countries with less extensive welfare systems homelessness affects broader groups and is more widely associated with poverty and housing affordability problems.

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“…Whilst other scholars have put forward similar hypotheses (Shinn, 2007;Toro, 2007), these hypotheses have not yet been fully tested.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using telephone surveys in five countries, they conclude that 'lifetime homelessness' in the USA and the UK are considerably higher than in Belgium, Germany or Italy, a finding possibly attributable to the higher levels of poverty and income inequality in the USA and the UK (Fitzpatrick, 2012;Shinn, 2007;Toro, 2007).…”

Section: Homelessness and Welfare Regimesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing a Typology of Homelessness Across Welfare Regimes: Shelter Use in Denmark and the USA

Benjaminsen

Andrade

2015

Housing Studies

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“…Instead working definitions of homelessness are often crafted from political considerations, rules adopted by statistical agencies, statutory regulations designed to allocate public resources, or the data constraints faced by researchers. All are highly contested and subject to considerable debate (see Watson 1984;Chamberlain & Mackenzie 1992;Argeriou et al 1995;Culhane & Hornburg 1997;Jacobs et al 1999;Toro 2007). The lack of a shared understanding of homelessness has rendered comparative research across countries virtually impossible (Fitzpatrick & Christian 2006).…”

Section: The Institutional Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lack of a shared understanding of homelessness has rendered comparative research across countries virtually impossible (Fitzpatrick & Christian 2006). In the United States, researchers tend to adopt a narrow definition that considers only those who are 'literally homeless' (Toro 2007). Correspondingly, U.S. national statistics count as homeless only those on the streets (sleeping rough), using emergency shelters, or in transitional housing programs (Henry et al 2013).…”

Section: The Institutional Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Journey Home: What Drives How Long People Are Homeless?

et al. 2014

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This paper uses survival analysis to model exits over time from two alternative notions of homelessness. We are unique in being able to account for time-invariant, unobserved heterogeneity. We find that duration dependence has an inverted U-shape with exit rates initially increasing (indicating positive duration dependence) and then falling. Like previous researchers, we find results consistent with negative duration dependence in models which ignore unobserved heterogeneity. Exit rates out of homelessness fall with age and with the education level of mothers. Women are more likely than men to exit homelessness when it is broadly conceived, but appear to be less likely to exit when it is narrowly defined. Finally, higher paternal education and exemptions from welfare-related activity requirements due to either mental or physical health conditions are all associated with higher exit rates.JEL classification: I3, R2, C4

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“…Although the problem is now recognized in many nations, most of the research on homelessness has been conducted in the United States (US), with some research done in a few other nations such as the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, France, and Australia (Toro, 2007). Homelessness in Eastern European nations has only recently been acknowledged as a social problem and there is little existing research on the topic (Hradecky & Hladikova, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing the Characteristics of Homeless Adults in Poland and the United States

Toro

Hobden

Durham

et al. 2014

American J of Comm Psychol

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This study compared the characteristics of probability samples of homeless adults in Poland (N = 200 from two cities) and the United States (N = 219 from one city), using measures with established reliability and validity in homeless populations. The same measures were used across nations and a systemic translation procedure assured comparability of measurement. The two samples were similar on some measures: In both nations, most homeless adults were male, many reported having dependent children and experiencing out-of-home placements when they themselves were children, and high levels of physical health problems were observed. Significant national differences were also found: Those in Poland were older, had been homeless for longer, showed lower rates on all psychiatric diagnoses assessed (including severe mental and substance abuse disorders), reported less contact with family and supportive network members, were less satisfied when they sought support from their networks, and reported fewer recent stressful life events and fewer risky sexual behaviors. Culturally-informed interpretations of these findings and their implications are presented.

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Toward an International Understanding of Homelessness

Cited by 151 publications

References 58 publications

Testing a Typology of Homelessness Across Welfare Regimes: Shelter Use in Denmark and the USA

Testing a Typology of Homelessness Across Welfare Regimes: Shelter Use in Denmark and the USA

A Journey Home: What Drives How Long People Are Homeless?

Comparing the Characteristics of Homeless Adults in Poland and the United States

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