The Effect of Family Background on the Risk of Homelessness in a Cohort of Danish Adolescents

Transcription

1 The Effect of Family Background on the Risk of Homelessness in a Cohort of Danish Adolescents Lars Benjaminsen The Danish National Center for Social Research

2 Problem What is the family background of young homeless people? Do they come from families with severe social problems or broader social segments? What is the effect of family background, socioeconomic and psychosocial risk factors on the risk of youth homelessness

3 Data & Methods Population: A cohort of 62,660 individuals who were 18-years old in 2007 Administrative data for the entire cohort Analysis data set: 54,464 individuals (87 pct.) with information on all variables. Homelessness: measured through a stay in a shelter Data from national client registration system in 110-shelters Background variables: Young persons: Demographics, mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, NEET, placement out-of-home and other child welfare interventions Parents: Mental illness, addiction, education, employment when young person was age 10, parents living together at age 10

4 Profile and prevalence 0.5 % of young males and 0.2 % of young females used a shelter over the five year period Most young shelter users have complex needs 83 % of young male and 98 % of young female shelter users have either mental illness, substance abuse or both at age % of young male and 53 % of young female shelter users have been placed out-of-home in childhood. Even in high risk groups the prevalence of shelter use is low 8 % of male and 5 % of female drug abusers used shelters 3 % of males and 1 % of females with mental illness used shelters 11 % of males and 6 % of females with dual diagnosis used shelters 5 % of males and 2 % of females placed out of home in childhood used shelters

5 Profile of the parents % of young male shelter users % of young male nonshelter users % of young female shelter users % of young female nonshelter users No parent employed Parents not living together Parent ever diagnosed with mental illness Parent ever diagnosed with substance abuse Parents have no education beyond compulsory level Parents medium education (vocational/short) Parents high education level (professional)

6 Risk model Risk factor Model 1 Parent variables (OR) Family background Model 2 Full model (OR) Parents mental illness 1,7** 1,1 Parents substance abuse 1,8** 1,1 Parents education, compulsory vs. long 4,0*** 2,5*** Parents education, vocational vs. medium/long 9 th Alcohol European abuse Research at age 23 Conference 2,6*** Homelessness NEET at age 23 in Times of Crisis 3,0*** 2,0** 1,7* Parents not employed 2,9*** 1,8** Parents not living together 2,0*** 1,0 Own vulnerabilities Out-of-home placement 3,0*** Mental illness at age 23 4,5*** Drug abuse at age 23 8,3***

7 2 Clusters of young shelter users Factor Cluster 1 Cluster 2 Number of people in cluster (n) At least one parent with mental illness At least one parent with substance abuse Both parents without work at age 10 Drug abuse, at age Placed out-of-home in childhood NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training), at age NEET, at age Mental illness, at age Mental illness, at age Drug abuse at age

8 The heterogeneity of family background of young shelter users About half of young shelter users are from families with severe problems, many of their parents are out of work and/or have mental illness and substance abuse. Many of the young people have been placed out-side home during childhood. They develop mental illness and substance abuse problems early during their youth. Policy implications group 1: Early interventions aimed at both the children and the parents, Aftercare in the transition from child welfare system to the adult welfare system. The other half of young shelter users come from broader social segments. Few of their parents have mental illness or addiction problems and most parents have work. These young people also develop mental illness and/or addiction problems during adolescence /early adulthood. Policy implications group 2: Early screening/detection of mental illness and addiction problems. and early interventions. Early interventions - integration between youth psychiatric, addiction and social services.