Research on homelessness - Sources and implications of uncertainty

The difficulties surrounding research on homelessness are numerous and subs tantial. Using a statewide census of homelessness, this article analyzes an d critiques common methodological techniques employed in that study. In add ition, using cross-tabulation and loglinear modeling, the relationship betw een key demographic variables and the cited primary cause of homelessness, as well as the types of housing needed, are assessed. Through a multiphased process, which isolates the effects of the operationalized definition of h omelessness, significant changes emerge. The operational definition of home lessness is found to affect the demographic composition of the sample, the estimation of annual incidents of homelessness, and the estimation of the s tatewide number of homeless individuals. The impact of the uncertainty surr ounding research on homelessness on policy formation is addressed.