Family Poverty and Housing Instability

federal poverty level

a measure of income issued every year by the department of health and human services

are used to determine your eligibility for certain programs and benefits, including savings on marketplace health insurance, and medicaid and CHIP coverage

income

as family size increases, ____ increases

risk factors for homelessness

low wages, unemployment, lack of affordable housing

health problem or unexpected emergencies

the impact of homelessness on families

children: disrupts education, emotional development, and mental health

parents: increases stress, affects instability, and family cohesion

homelessness

individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence

where homeless may live

includes hotels/motels, doubled-up (sharing housing with family, friends, or others), cars, condemned (abandoned) buildings, and shelters and housing agencies

homelessness spectrum

from couch-surfing, living in motels, to shelters

disrupted routines, anxiety about food and safety

how are children affected from homelessness?

has negative effects on emotional and cognitive development

how does homelessness affect development?

eviction

situations like _____ are part of the housing instability experience

HUD definition of homelessness

focuses on people in shelters or without a fixed address

DOE definition of homelessness

includes children living in unstable conditions (like doubled-up, motels, etc)

HUD point-in-time (PIT) count

underestimates the true number of homeless families due to restrictive definitions

underreporting

leads to fewer resources for families in precarious living situations

housing instability

includes a range of living situations where housing is insecure, inconsistent, or unsafe (like late rent payments, eviction, homelessness)

stable housing, moderate instability, severe instability

what is the spectrum of housing instability?

stable housing

secure, long-term residence

moderate instability

rent is late or temporary living with family

severe instability

eviction, living in shelters, or homelessness

resetting policies to end family homelessness

family homelessness impacts children disproportionately, exposing them to ACEs and long-term health risks

current policies and definitions (like HUD vs DOE) lead to underreporting and insufficient resources

affordable housing, integrated trauma-informed services, and better policy definitions are essential

affordable housing

not spending more than 30% of income on housing

adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)

homeless children often face these, such as domestic violence, neglect, and poverty

these traumatic experiences affect brain development, health, and long-term success

thrive in school, attend college, and earn more as adults

low income kids living in stable, affordable homes are more likely to…

have behavioral problems, perform less well in school, and drop out of school

low income kids without a stable, affordable home are more likely to…

stable home and routine

what two factors are crucial for development?

new proposal seeks to limit rents in wilmington

rent prices increase

freeze rent hikes for affordability

many residents are struggling to afford housing

developers concerns about profit

absentee landlords

solutions to homelessness

invest in affordable housing

invest in housing first approaches

increases worker wages (housing wages)

address discriminatory housing practices

address legacy of race/racism in the US

family science implications

housing is health

housing stability impacts development and well-being

housing is paramount to family well-being