While the extent of family homelessness can be traced to broader economic and social issues, particularly the gap between income and rent, the availability of decent affordable low-income housing and the high poverty rates among families headed by women, much remains to be learned about the course of hopelessness and the experience of residential instability over time. Such information is critical for designing effective interventions and for the development of prevention strategies. This revised application proposes to add a longitudinal component to an ongoing, NIMH-funded study of 250 homeless and 250 housed families in Worcester, Massachusetts. It would build on the existing population-based case-control comparison of homeless and housed families and the strong collaborative relationships that have been developed with the Worcester community. The proposed prospective study would involve follow-up interviews of both mothers and their approximately 1000 children at 8, 16, and 24 months subsequent to the initial, baseline interview completed for the cross-sectional study. By following the sample of homeless and housed families for 24 months and collecting additional data over time. It will be possible to: 1) examine the natural course of homelessness among undomiciled families and the extent to which family homelessness is chronic or episodic; 2) compare and contrast factors that increase homelessness vulnerability with those that prolong it; 3) examine mediating factors, in particular social resources and their effects on residential stability for homeless women and their children; 4) describe the consequences of homelessness for women on service utilization, victimization, and other life stressors; 5) examine the consequences of homelessness, other risk, and protective factors (such as mother's mental health) on the development, socio- emotional adaptation, and academic achievement of children over time. A prospective study of community population-based samples of homeless and housed women and their children holds considerable promise for developing an understanding of the course of hopelessness for families, how factors influencing course differ from factors affecting vulnerability, and the consequences of hopelessness for women and children.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH051479-01A1
Application #
2250722
Study Section
Child/Adolescent Risk and Prevention Review Committee (CAPR)
Project Start
1994-08-01
Project End
1998-07-31
Budget Start
1994-08-01
Budget End
1995-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Better Homes Fund
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Newton
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02159
Weinreb, Linda; Perloff, Jennifer; Goldberg, Robert et al. (2006) Factors associated with health service utilization patterns in low-income women. J Health Care Poor Underserved 17:180-99
Buckner, John C; Beardslee, William R; Bassuk, Ellen L (2004) Exposure to violence and low-income children's mental health: direct, moderated, and mediated relations. Am J Orthopsychiatry 74:413-23
Wehler, Cheryl; Weinreb, Linda F; Huntington, Nicholas et al. (2004) Risk and protective factors for adult and child hunger among low-income housed and homeless female-headed families. Am J Public Health 94:109-15
Weinreb, Linda; Goldberg, Robert; Lessard, Darleen (2002) Pap smear testing among homeless and very low-income housed mothers. J Health Care Poor Underserved 13:141-50
Weinreb, Linda; Wehler, Cheryl; Perloff, Jennifer et al. (2002) Hunger: its impact on children's health and mental health. Pediatrics 110:e41
Weinreb, L; Goldberg, R; Lessard, D et al. (1999) HIV-risk practices among homeless and low-income housed mothers. J Fam Pract 48:859-67
Buckner, J C; Bassuk, E L; Weinreb, L F et al. (1999) Homelessness and its relation to the mental health and behavior of low-income school-age children. Dev Psychol 35:246-57
Weinreb, L; Goldberg, R; Perloff, J (1998) Health characteristics and medical service use patterns of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothers. J Gen Intern Med 13:389-97
Bassuk, E L; Buckner, J C; Perloff, J N et al. (1998) Prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders among homeless and low-income housed mothers. Am J Psychiatry 155:1561-4
Garcia Coll, C; Buckner, J C; Brooks, M G et al. (1998) The developmental status and adaptive behavior of homeless and low-income housed infants and toddlers. Am J Public Health 88:1371-4

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