A dynamic analysis of homeless-domicile transitions

Using data from a longitudinal study in Alameda County California, this paper examines the relevance of the individual deficit and the institutional resource frameworks in understanding homeless-domicile transitions of female family heads, single women and single men. The study employs two analytic strategies. First, by pooling data from the three groups, we examine the extent to which variables derived from the two frameworks account far cross-group differences in homeless-domicile transitions. Second, by conducting separate analyses for the three subgroups, we explore whether the effects of individual deficit and institutional resource factors vary according to homeless individuals' Bender and family status. Our pooled sample analysis provides more support for the institutional resource than for the individual deficit framework. Our findings from within-subsample analyses, however, suggest that both individual deficit and institutional resource variables are linked to homeless-domicile transitions of the three groups. The absence of consistent effects of individual deficit and institutional resource variables for exits from and returns to homeless spells, as well as across the three groups, points to the possible interactions between the two frameworks in affecting homeless-domicile transitions.