The Causes of Homelessness in Later Life: Findings From a 3-Nation Study

TLDR

The study investigates the causes of homelessness among newly homeless older adults in urban areas of the United States, England, and Australia. Data were collected through interviews with more than 122 older adults who had become homeless in the past two years and from their key workers across the three countries. Antecedent causes included loss of accommodation, rent arrears, bereavement, relationship breakdowns, and tenant disputes, while contributory factors were health problems, alcohol abuse, and gambling; most cases involved a combination of personal problems, welfare policy gaps, and service delivery deficiencies, with similar patterns across the three nations.

Abstract

This article presents findings from a study of the causes of homelessness among newly homeless older people in selected urban areas of the United States, England, and Australia.Interviews were conducted in each country with > or =122 older people who had become homeless during the last 2 years. Information was also collected from the subjects' key workers about the circumstances and problems that contributed to homelessness.Two-thirds of the subjects had never been homeless before. Antecedent causes were the accommodation was sold or needed repair, rent arrears, death of a close relative, relationship breakdown, and disputes with other tenants and neighbors. Contributory factors were physical and mental health problems, alcohol abuse, and gambling problems.Most subjects became homeless through a combination of personal problems and incapacities, welfare policy gaps, and service delivery deficiencies. Whereas there are nation-specific variations, across the three countries, the principal causes and their interactions are similar.