News by Subject Social & Behavior

In times of economic difficulties, having to pay a child through college could be a major reason for a family to lose their home. This is according to two US researchers, Jacob Faber of New York University and Peter Rich of Cornell University, in a study published in Springer's journal Demography.

A new study led by researchers from Children's HealthWatch, a research and policy network headquartered at Boston Medical Center (BMC), shows infants under 12 months old who experience homelessness are at-risk of poor health and development compared to their peers in housed families.

A group of unsheltered homeless adults in Boston known as 'rough sleepers' because they avoid shelters and instead sleep on park benches, in alleyways, train stations and abandoned cars had much higher mortality rates than homeless adults who slept in emergency shelters and the Massachusetts adult population in general. This 10-year observational study of 445 unsheltered homeless adults (of whom 134 died during the study period) was an attempt to understand more about this unique subpopulation of homeless adults.

2.6 billion people -- a third of the world's population -- live in countries where democracy is in retreat, according to a new study.

People with severe mental illness are more than twice as likely to have Type 2 diabetes, with even higher risks among patients who are African American or Hispanic, according to a new study led by UCSF.

The first peer-reviewed study into autism and homelessness has been published, in the journal Autism. The researchers* found evidence suggesting that autistic adults are over-represented among the homeless population. They have called for more research to understand the links between autism and homelessness, to help prevent autistic people becoming homeless and to improve support for those who are already homeless.

A new study led by public health researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine reports significant food insecurity for adults on probation in Rhode Island. Nearly three-quarters of the participants experienced food insecurity over a 30-day period, with almost half having very low food security.

A new longitudinal study examined the likelihood of homeless youth of different races being harassed and arrested by police. The study found that nonwhite homeless youth are more likely than white homeless youth to report police harassment and arrest, but that elements of living on the street -- including increased visibility and prior experiences with harassment -- offset racial disparities.

Though young homeless adults make use of available food programs, these support structures still often fail to provide reliable and consistent access to nutritious food, according to the results of a new study by a University at Buffalo social work researcher. The findings, which fill an important gap in the research literature, can help refine policies and programs to better serve people experiencing homelessness, particularly those between the ages of 18-24.

A new study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program finds that more than 40 percent of patients treated at US community health centers have a history of housing problems.