In and Out of Homelessness: National Longitudinal Evidence

• In Event: Poverty and Public Policy

Abstract

We present the first national analysis of residential status before and after homelessness. Using new panel datasets created by linking the 2010 and 2020 decennial Censuses and the 2006-2023 American Community Surveys, we estimate multi-year transition rates between living situations: homelessness (both sheltered and unsheltered), conventional housing, correctional facilities, and healthcare institutions, including nursing homes and group homes for disabled adults. For individuals transitioning between homelessness and conventional housing, we analyze household structures in both the pre- and post-homelessness periods to identify living arrangements that may indicate vulnerability to housing loss or, conversely, successful exit from homelessness. We also examine the association between demographic characteristics and transition probabilities and estimate multi-year regional migration rates to shed light on geographic mobility patterns preceding and following periods of homelessness. This nationally representative analysis deepens our understanding of the pathways into and out of homelessness, providing a foundation for evidence on prevention and rehousing strategies.

Authors

• Angela Wyse, Dartmouth College

• Bruce Meyer, University of Chicago