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Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Lifetime Prevalence of Homelessness in the United States

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  • Vincent A. Fusaro

    (Boston College School of Social Work)

  • Helen G. Levy

    (University of Michigan)

  • H. Luke Shaefer

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

Homelessness in the United States is often examined using cross-sectional, point-in-time samples. Any experience of homelessness is a risk factor for adverse outcomes, so it is also useful to understand the incidence of homelessness over longer periods. We estimate the lifetime prevalence of homelessness among members of the Baby Boom cohort (n = 6,545) using the 2012 and 2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a nationally representative survey of older Americans. Our analysis indicates that 6.2 % of respondents had a period of homelessness at some point in their lives. We also identify dramatic disparities in lifetime incidence of homelessness by racial and ethnic subgroups. Rates of homelessness were higher for non-Hispanic blacks (16.8 %) or Hispanics of any race (8.1 %) than for non-Hispanic whites (4.8 %; all differences significant with p

Suggested Citation

  • Vincent A. Fusaro & Helen G. Levy & H. Luke Shaefer, 2018. "Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Lifetime Prevalence of Homelessness in the United States," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 55(6), pages 2119-2128, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:demogr:v:55:y:2018:i:6:d:10.1007_s13524-018-0717-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s13524-018-0717-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    9. Mejia-Lancheros, Cilia & Lachaud, James & Woodhall-Melnik, Julia & O'Campo, Patricia & Hwang, Stephen W. & Stergiopoulos, Vicky, 2021. "Longitudinal interrelationships of mental health discrimination and stigma with housing and well-being outcomes in adults with mental illness and recent experience of homelessness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    10. April Jackson & Bridget Callea & Nicholas Stampar & Abigail Sanders & Alberto De Los Rios & Jake Pierce, 2020. "Exploring Tiny Homes as an Affordable Housing Strategy to Ameliorate Homelessness: A Case Study of the Dwellings in Tallahassee, FL," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-22, January.
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    12. Alberton, Amy M. & Angell, G. Brent & Gorey, Kevin M. & Grenier, Stéphane, 2020. "Homelessness among Indigenous peoples in Canada: The impacts of child welfare involvement and educational achievement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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