Housing Trajectories, Risk Factors, and Resources among Individuals Who Are Homeless or Precariously Housed

Abstract

This study identifies time-patterned trajectories of housing stability among homeless and vulnerably housed individuals who participated in a multisite four-year longitudinal study in Canada. Findings show four distinct trajectories for the homeless and vulnerably housed: high levels of sustained housing stability, improving levels over time leading to high levels of housing stability, decreasing levels of housing stability over time, and low levels of housing stability over time. The presence of resources rather than risk factors differentiated the trajectories of participants who achieved housing stability from those who had low levels of housing stability. Participants who had better housing stability were more likely to live in subsidized housing. Findings highlight the need for programs and policies directed at addressing the housing affordability problem through income support strategies and the creation of affordable housing.