Homeless Families Program

In addition to suffering from the trauma of living on the streets or in shelters, many homeless women have been victims of sexual abuse, violence, and other forms of trauma that have painful and long-lasting effects on them and their children. These women are in desperate need of programs and services that address their complex situations in a sensitive and informed manner.

The National Center and its partners are undertaking the Homeless Families Program to determine how best to meet the unique needs of homeless women and their children. This is the first ever multi-site study to focus solely on interventions for homeless families in which mothers have psychiatric and substance use disorders.

By examining the strategies used to treat homeless women and their children at eight sites throughout the country, The National Center will determine which practices produce the most positive outcomes. The results will be based on changes in residential stability, psychological distress, trauma recovery, and substance use among the mothers. In addition, the emotional and behavioral health of the children will be examined. Successful practices will help providers serve this vulnerable and disadvantaged population.

The sites involved in this study are located in Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York (2 sites), North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

The National Center's partners in the Homeless Families Program are Policy Research Associates and the Vanderbilt University Institute for Public Policy. The study is being funded by a federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is scheduled to conclude in 2006.