Employment, the Social Safety Net, and the Dynamics of Homelessness

Despite spending billions of dollars annually on homeless services and housing assistance, we lack systematic evidence on predominant pathways into and out of homelessness in the United States. This project will provide the first quantitatively rigorous, national examination of these pathways using a novel panel dataset of housing statuses built by linking together decennial Censuses, the American Community Survey (ACS), and numerous sources of administrative data. We will examine patterns of transitions between homelessness, conventional housing, correctional facilities, and other institutional settings, as well as patterns of formal employment and safety net benefit receipt surrounding different types of housing transitions. By illuminating the economic circumstances that characterize pathways into and out of homelessness, this project will provide a strong empirical foundation for the design of policies to address this pressing social issue.