Homelessness is defined as when an individual lacks a fixed nighttime residency. While any individual can experience homelessness, it is commonly reported that the homeless population mostly consists of single males.
Homelessness is defined as when an individual lacks a fixed nighttime residency. While any individual can experience homelessness, it is commonly reported that the homeless population mostly consists of single males. A combination of structural or situational changes (e.g., economic recession, high unemployment rates, housing costs), societal perceptions, and various personal circumstances (e.g., mental health, substance abuse, incarceration) can add degrees of complexity to a homeless individual’s situation. Efforts to help people who are homeless may involve providing resources beyond housing, such as supporting community integration and workforce participation.
For more general information on homelessness, please see the previously published Science Note: Homelessness in Missouri.
Between 2018 and 2020, homelessness in Missouri increased by approximately 11% to a total of 6,527 individuals experiencing homelessness.1,2 The most recent demographic data on homeless populations comes from the January 2020 Balance of State Continuum of Care (CoC).a This data indicates that rural homelessness accounts for 24% of the Missouri homeless population. These data do not include homelessness in urban areas. In the Balance of State CoC, rural homelessness increased by 16.5% from 2018 and equally affected males and females.3 In terms of race and ethnicity, 16% were Black and 78% were White.3 Given that 76% of the Missouri population experiencing homelessness resides in urban areas, and that demographics in these urban areas differ from rural demographics, these data cannot necessarily be extrapolated to draw statewide conclusions.4
Based on the 2019 Missouri Statewide Homeless Study, which includes data from urban CoCs, 55.8% of homeless persons were men. However, this proportion varies by geographical areas. In St. Louis area counties, approximately 55% percent of homeless persons were women.5 Of those experiencing homelessness, 64% were single individuals and 36% were individuals in families.5Individual homelessness has increased by 9% whereas family homelessness has remained consistent over the last two years.1,2 With regards to race and ethnicity, 40% of individuals experiencing homelessness were Black.5 Since 11% of the Missourian population is Black, Black Missourians are over 5 times more likely to be homeless than White Missourians.4
While national data reports 70% of homeless individuals are men, these same data also indicate that men are slightly more likely than women to experience unsheltered homelessness with variances between states.2 Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness increased by 26.3% between in Missouri 2018 and 2020.1,2 There are roughly 65 homeless shelters throughout the state, with some locations providing for men only -- however the percentage of male-only shelters is not available.6 In addition to providing a temporary safe place, shelters provide referrals for support and rehabilitation programs.
Mental illness and substance use disorders are significant public health issues affecting individuals experiencing homeless. Individuals may experience more than one of these conditions;7-9 the 2019 Missouri Homelessness Study indicates that mental health illness and/or substance use disorders affect 20% of homeless Missourians.5 A study of substance-abusing homeless men found that they had higher than average rates of stressful life experiences and traumatic events. In fact, those who grew up within an unstable family life where substance abuse and stressful life experiences occurred regularly are more likely to have both substance abuse and mental health disorders later in life.6 Mental illness and substance abuse are associated with increased emergency and medical costs, which are more costly forms of health care than standard outpatient care.
Programs like Housing First, which helps homeless individuals find immediate housing, remove barriers to housing and supportive services without prerequisites for sobriety or psychiatric treatment. Research has demonstrated that participation in these programs is associated with reduced hospital visits and the associated costs, successful community reintegration, and reduction in homelessness.10
There is a link between male homelessness and incarceration. In general, homeless individuals are more likely to be arrested for nonviolent offenses such as trespassing, loitering, and acquiring inhabitable living spaces (e.g., park benches).11 These are often referred to as “quality of life” crimes. Homeless individuals are more likely to be repeat offenders for these low-level offenses, especially for those who are unsheltered. A recent survey of 441 homeless individuals conducted in Denver, Colorado showed approximately 70% of police officer-homeless individual interactions resulted in a citation, and 36% resulted in incarceration.12 Additionally, 10% of police and homeless encounters resulted in referral to social services and 5% resulted in calling outreach workers.12
Re-entry programs that emphasize housing have the potential to break the homelessness-jail cycle. The 2016 Denver Supportive Housing Social Impact Bond Initiative (Denver SIB) aimed to increase housing stability and decrease jail stays among homeless individuals using a “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes permanent housing for those experiencing homelessness. The program reduced people’s interactions with the criminal justice system with a 34% reduction in police contacts and 40% reduction in subsequent arrests. The program also resulted in decreased net costs to taxpayers for other associated public services (~$8.6 million), including emergency room visits.13
Criminal records can be a barrier to obtaining housing and employment; those who experience homelessness with a criminal record may experience homelessness for longer periods of time.14,15 Most re-entry programs help individuals find housing before employment. However, research suggests that facilitating employment early is an underutilized yet also effective practice for preventing homelessness and increasing self-sufficiency.16,17
United States Census Bureau. (2019). Quick Facts: Missouri. Retrieved November 2021 from from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/springfieldcitymissouri,columbiacitymissouri,independencecitymissouri,stlouiscitymissouri,kansascitycitymissouri,MO/RHI225219
Missouri Housing Development Commission. (2019). 2019 Missouri Statewide Homelessness Study. Retrieved from https://www.mhdc.com/ci/Missouri%20Homelessness%20Study_Final_11.18.19.pdf
Homeless Shelter Directory (2021). Missouri Homeless Shelters. Retrieved November 2021 from https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/state/missouri
Deck, S. M., & Platt, P. A. (2015). Homelessness is traumatic: Abuse, victimization, and trauma histories of homeless men. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 24(9), 1022-1043.
Fischer, S. N., Shinn, M., Shrout, P., & Tsemberis, S. (2008). Homelessness, mental illness, and criminal activity: Examining patterns over time. American Journal of Community Psychology, 42(3-4), 251.
Oppenheimer, S. C., Nurius, P. S., & Green, S. (2016). Homelessness History Impacts on Health Outcomes and Economic and Risk Behavior Intermediaries: New Insights from Population Data. Families in Society : The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 97(3), 230–242. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044- 3894.2016.97.21
Gulcur, L., Stefancic, A., Shinn, M., Tsemberis, S., & Fischer, S. N. (2003). Housing, hospitalization, and cost outcomes for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities participating in continuum of care and housing first programmes. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 13(2), 171-186.
Roy, L., Crocker, A. G., Nicholls, T. L., Latimer, E. A., & Ayllon, A. R. (2014). Criminal behavior and victimization among homeless individuals with severe mental illness: a systematic review. Psychiatric services, 65(6), 739-750.
Robinson, T. (2019). No right to rest: Police enforcement patterns and quality of life consequences of the criminalization of homelessness. Urban affairs review, 55(1), 41-73.
Urban Institute. (2021). Housing First Breaks the Homelessness-Jail Cycle. Retrieved August 2021 from https://www.urban.org/features/housing-first-breaks-homelessness-jail-cycle
Poremski, D., Whitley, R., & Latimer, E. (2014). Barriers to obtaining employment for people with severe mental illness experiencing homelessness. Journal of Mental Health, 23(4), 181-185.
Tsai, J., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2016). Psychosis, lack of job skills, and criminal history: Associations with employment in two samples of homeless men. Psychiatric Services, 67(6), 671-675.
Shaheen, G., & Rio, J. (2007). Recognizing work as a priority in preventing or ending homelessness. The journal of primary prevention, 28(3), 341-358.
Evans, W. N., Sullivan, J. X., & Wallskog, M. (2016). The impact of homelessness prevention programs on homelessness. Science, 353(6300), 694–699.
