Relationship of asthma in children to homelessness Asthma was reported for 27.9% of homeless children in this sample, 3 times the national average. Children with asthma had been hospitalized more often, Showed higher levels of inattention/hyperactivity and behavior problems, and evidenced lower academic functioning. (J.J. Cutuli, MA a, Janette E. Herbers, MA a, Maria Rinaldi, MS, MPH b, Ann S. Masten, PhD a, Charles N. Oberg, MD, MPH b ( a Institute of Child Development b Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota)Asthma and Behavior in Homeless 4- to 7-Year-Olds, Pediatrics 2010;125; )

Homelessness in Minnesota: How are the children? Pediatric Grand Rounds University of Minnesota June 30, 2010 Presented by Greg Owen, Ph.D. Consulting Scientist, Wilder Research

Homelessness in Minnesota Background: The Minnesota statewide survey of homelessness

wilderresearch.org One-night counts and estimates Total count Total estimate Count of children with parents 889

Children with their parents 34% Unaccompanied minors age % Unaccompanied young adults age % Adult males age 22 or older 30% Adult females age 22 or older 23% wilderresearch.org

Age 0-5 Age 6-12 Age wilderresearch.org Ages of children, including unaccompanied minors

What’s new Homelessness in Minnesota

Key findings Significant increase in homeless population More people homeless for at least one year Decreased employment and income wilderresearch.org

Adults: Employment wilderresearch.org Any employment 35+ hours per week

Key findings (continued) Increased use of food stamps; other service use remains high Increase in homelessness greatest among unaccompanied youth (age 12-21) wilderresearch.org

Unaccompanied youth… Largest growth among (57%) Shelter capacity for youth relatively unchanged since 2003 Largest increase in shelter turnaways occurred among youth wilderresearch.org

… slightly less severity Slight drop from 2006 study in percent of unaccompanied youth reporting: Serious mental illness (46% vs. 49%) Out of home placement (64% vs. 70%) Physical or sexual abuse (45% vs. 51%) Slept outside in October (24% vs. 29%) wilderresearch.org

Homelessness in Minnesota What persists

Key findings Racial disparities Multiple health issues Barriers to obtaining and maintaining housing Domestic violence among women and children History of placement or incarceration wilderresearch.org

Racial disparities wilderresearch.org Adults (18+)Minors (12-17) HomelessMNHomelessMN 11%1%American Indian20%1% 3%Asian American2%4% 41%4%Black43%6% 39%88%White24%81% 8%2% Other, including multi-racial 11%7% 3% Hispanic (any race) 11%5%

Adults: Health issues Serious mental illness 3,250 (55%) Chronic health conditions 2,761 (46%) Substance abuse disorder 1,385 (23%) None of these disabilities: 1,557 (26%) wilderresearch.org

Adults: High incarceration rates wilderresearch.org Adults released in last 2 years Adults ever in corrections facilities

Adults: Other placements 58% have had at least one social service placement including… Drug or alcohol treatment facility (36%) Foster or group home (26%) Half-way house (23%) Mental health treatment facility (20%) wilderresearch.org

Unaccompanied minors: Previous placements 61% have been in a social service or corrections placement, including… Foster home (34%) Mental health treatment center (20%) Group home (19%) Juvenile corrections for more than a week (36%) 27% have run from a placement (vs. 32% in 2006) wilderresearch.org

Homelessness in Minnesota Homeless children and families

Nomenclature for today “Children” ─ Ages 0-17, with parents “Minors” ─ Age 12-17, on their own wilderresearch.org

More women have children with them 55% of homeless women 7% of homeless men wilderresearch.org

Who homeless children are with wilderresearch.org Mother only 67% Father only 5% Two parents 19% No parent 9%

Parents: Racial disparities wilderresearch.org Homeless parents MN adults American Indian11%1% Asian American1%3% Black48%4% White28%88% Other, including multi-racial9%2% Hispanic (any race)9%3%

Where homeless children were counted wilderresearch.org Battered women 9% Emergency shelter 19% Transitional housing 59% Informal arrangement 12% Unsheltered 1%

Health care and other needs of children with parents HOMELESSNESS IN MINNESOTA

Health care needs of children with parents Percent of parents who could not get needed care for their children in past year: Dental care (12%) Physical health care (8%) Mental health care (3%) wilderresearch.org

Other health related needs Percent of parents who report at least one child with a chronic or severe problem: Emotional or behavioral health (21%) Physical health (13%) wilderresearch.org

Parents: Health issues Serious mental illness 863 (49%) Chronic health conditions 727 (42%) None of these disabilities: 573 (33%) Substance abuse disorder 189 (11%)

Mothers: Domestic violence 46%stayed in an abusive relationship because no other housing 52% physically or sexually abused as child or youth 11%in battered women’s shelters 30%fleeing domestic violence (over half have children with them) wilderresearch.org

Minors: Violence 38% physically abused ─ 47% girls/ 26% boys 20% sexually abused ─ 32% girls / 4% boys 27% stayed in an abusive situation because no other housing ─ 32% girls / 22% boys wilderresearch.org

Other needs of children Percent of parents who report: Unable to get regular child care when needed in past year (34%) Children had to skip meals in past month (8%) wilderresearch.org

School problems of children Percent of parents who report at least one school-age child… Had repeated a grade (19%) Has a learning difficulty or other school related problem (38%) Has trouble going to school because of housing situation (11%) ─ 4% transitional housing (N=471) ─ 17% emergency shelter (N=177) ─ 36% informal arrangements (N=73) wilderresearch.org

School attendance on day of survey 84% of parents said all their children attended 59% of unaccompanied youth attended wilderresearch.org

Homelessness in Minnesota History of homelessness

Where parents last had regular housing wilderresearch.org Saint Paul 16% Minneapolis 26% Other metro 11% Another state 29% Another country <.05% Greater Minnesota 18%

Most have lived in Minnesota at least 2 years 72% of parents ─ 33% of the rest have lived here before 81% of unaccompanied minors ─ 71% of the rest have lived here before wilderresearch.org

Parents: Reasons for leaving last housing 46% couldn’t afford rent / house payments 37% lost job / hours cut 36% evicted or lease not renewed 30% broke up with spouse / partner 24% abused by someone in the home Same top 4 as for non-parent adults wilderresearch.org

Parents who were homeless as children wilderresearch.org

Parents: Age of first homelessness wilderresearch.org % % % %

Prospects for re-housing Homelessness in Minnesota

Parents: What prevents re-housing now Factors most often cited by parents: 68% lack of a job or income 45% lack of affordable housing 30% credit problems 22% bad rental history / eviction wilderresearch.org

Minors: What prevents re-housing now Factors most often cited by unaccompanied minors: 64% age 62% lack of a job or income 38% lack of affordable housing 19% no local rental history wilderresearch.org

Prospects for becoming re-housed On waiting list for a housing voucher ─ 65% of parents (average wait 13 months) ─ 36% of single adults (8 months) ─ 15% of unaccompanied minors (3.5 months) Could not get on waiting list (it was closed) ─ 16% of parents ─ 12% of single adults ─ 6% of unaccompanied minors wilderresearch.org

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