The Relationship Between Community Context and Homelessness

• In Event: Housing and Crime

Abstract

This analysis investigates the potential links between community context in the form of sociodemographic characteristics, treatment facility capacity, and crime on the use of resources for the newly homeless. Data on the former addresses of more than 8,000 individuals who received services from the Office of Supportive Housing in Philadelphia are analyzed to determine the spatial origins of homelessness in the city. By aggregating the data to block groups within Philadelphia, we show that rates of entrance into homelessness are influenced by block group-level measures of SES, the capacity of drug treatment facilities, and, in particular, violent crime.

Authors

• David W. Bartelt, Temple University

• Karin Eyrich Garg, Temple University

• Brian Lockwood, Monmouth University