The Relationship between Housing Status and Parent and Child Well-Being: Evidence from a Research-Practice Partnership

Background and Purpose

Research has shown that homelessness is negatively associated with both adult and child mental health. We build on this evidence by using data, collected as part of a research-practice partnership, to examine the relationship between housing status and parent and child well-being among families who all face some degree of housing insecurity.

Methods

Our sample includes two waves of data from 113 individuals who, starting in 2022, were participating in a homelessness prevention program implemented jointly by the Boston Public Schools (BPS) and FamilyAid, a housing services provider. BPS staff referred families who were either experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness, to FamilyAid for services. We conducted a phone survey with participants to collect information about their housing situation, their mental health, and their children’s behaviors. Six months later, they were invited to complete a 10-minute self-administered online survey (N=78). We used ordinary least squares regression to examine the relationship between housing status – living in their own home, doubled up, or homeless (living in a shelter or hotel/motel)—and adult and child outcomes, while controlling for demographic and program factors. Respondents’ mental health was assessed using validated scales for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (CES-D modified) and psychological well-being. Child outcomes—all reported by parents— included internalizing behaviors (assessed using a 5-item scale), the number of school absences during the past 30 days, and whether they were tired during the day.

Results

Adjusting for control variables, both adults who were doubled up and those who lived in their own homes had lower levels of anxiety and depression, and higher levels of psychological well-being, than those who were homeless (only the latter measure was statistically significant at the 5% level).

For children, adjusting for controls, we found that those who lived in their own home had lower internalizing scores compared to those who were homeless (B=-0.91, 95% CI [-2.16- 0.32], P=0.146), whereas internalizing scores for children who were doubled up were similar to those of children experiencing homelessness. Compared to children experiencing homelessness, children living in their own home were 36 percentage points less likely to be tired (95% CI [-0.59 -0.13], P=0.003), and children who were doubled up were 23 percentage points less likely to be tired (95% CI [-0.49 0.04], P=0.092). We found no statistically significant differences in the number of child absences across the three housing statuses.

Conclusion

Among families who are all in precarious housing situations, parents living in their own homes or doubled up still tend to have better mental health outcomes than those who are homeless. For children, however, there is suggestive evidence that even being doubled up is associated with poorer mental health and lower sleep quality relative to living in their own home. This highlights the value of intervening early to prevent homelessness and promote parent and child well-being. The results of this study will be used to advocate for continued funding and implementation of homelessness prevention programs.