THE PROCESS OF BECOMING HOMELESS - AN INVESTIGATION OF FEMALE-HEADED FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY

Homelessness is modeled as a three-state process in which female-heade d families move between primary residency in their own homes (residenc e) to doubling-up in other families' homes (doubling up) and finally t o homeless shelters (shelter). The most important explanatory factors for families in residence are rent/income variables, while the most im portant factors for Families doubling-up pertain to sharing difficulti es. The results support early intervention in the homelessness process as an important public policy goal.