Structural causes of homelessness: Comparing impact strength from 2007-2024

• In Event: Mathematical Sociology Section Flash Talks
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 11. Structural causes of homelessness: Comparing impact strength from 2007-2024

Abstract

Many researchers who study homelessness argue that traditional frameworks are often too narrow, failing to account for groups outside the reach of social services. Despite historic calls to broaden the scope of sampling to encompass structural forces, only recent advancements have enabled the development of a robust framework for accurate measurement and analysis. This study utilizes Markov random fields (MRFs) to explore the influences of key structural indicators on homelessness from 2007 to 2024. By employing partial correlations, we investigate the interplay among geographic locations at the state-level from 2007 to 2024 among the following variables: the job market, median rent, eviction rates, occupancy rates, median income, the construction of new homes, the cost of one-bedroom units, funding from Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and policies under democrat or republican elections (by state). Our findings reveal that rent, income, and the availability of single-bedroom units are the foremost predictors of homelessness rates, underscoring the significance of housing affordability and availability as central determinants. The analysis also distinguishes variation in causal dynamics between states governed by different political parties, even as they change, spotlighting substantial differences in the impact of HUD funding on homelessness rates across partisan lines. The results emphasize the need for policy reforms targeted at increasing housing affordability and suggest that political contexts distinctly shape the effectiveness of structural interventions. These insights offer a valuable framework for policymakers aiming to address the root causes of homelessness through targeted structural reforms.

Authors

• Curtis Smith, Bentley University

• Moinak Bhaduri, Bentley University