Applying Cluster Analysis to Test a Typology of Homelessness by Pattern of Shelter Utilization: Results from the Analysis of Administrative Data

TLDR

The study tests a typology of homelessness using administrative data on public shelter use in New York City (1988‑1995) and Philadelphia (1991‑1995). Cluster analysis was applied to produce three groups—transitional, episodic, and chronic—based on the number of shelter days and episodes. The results show that the transitional group (≈80 % of users) is younger, has fewer health problems, and is predominantly White; the episodic group (≈10 %) is also young but more often non‑White and has more health issues; the chronic group (≈10 %) is older, more often non‑White, has higher rates of health problems, yet consumes half of all shelter days, suggesting that program planning should tailor interventions to each cluster.

Abstract

This study tests a typology of homelessness using administrative data on public shelter use in New York City (1988-1995) and Philadelphia (1991-1995). Cluster analysis is used to produce three groups (transitionally, episodically, and chronically homeless) by number of shelter days and number of shelter episodes. Results show that the transitionally homeless, who constitute approximately 80% of shelter users in both cities, are younger, less likely to have mental health, substance abuse, or medical problems, and to overrepresent Whites relative to the other clusters. The episodically homeless, who constitute 10% of shelter users, are also comparatively young, but are more likely to be non-White, and to have mental health, substance abuse, and medical problems. The chronically homeless, who account for 10% of shelter users, tend to be older, non-White, and to have higher levels of mental health, substance abuse, and medical problems. Differences in health status between the episodically and chronically homeless are smaller, and in some cases the chronically homeless have lower rates (substance abuse in New York; serious mental illness in Philadelphia). Despite their relatively small number, the chronically homeless consume half of the total shelter days. Results suggest that program planning would benefit from application of this typology, possibly targeting the transitionally homeless with preventive and resettlement assistance, the episodically homeless with transitional housing and residential treatment, and the chronically homeless with supported housing and long-term care programs.