Table 1.
Participant Characteristics in the HOPE HOME Cohort of Homeless adults aged 50 and older (N=350)
| No. | % | |
|---|---|---|
| Demographics | ||
| Age, y | ||
| 50–54 | 102 | 29.1 |
| 55–59 | 117 | 33.4 |
| 60–64 | 89 | 25.4 |
| 65 or greater | 42 | 12.0 |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 80 | 22.9 |
| Race | ||
| Non-Latino white | 38 | 10.9 |
| Non-Latino African American | 279 | 79.7 |
| Latino | 16 | 4.6 |
| Other | 17 | 4.9 |
| Veteran | 76 | 21.7 |
| Highest Completed Education | ||
| Less than High School | 91 | 26.0 |
| High School or GED Degree | 181 | 51.7 |
| Post-Secondary Degree | 78 | 22.3 |
| History of Homelessness | ||
| Homeless as a Child | 8 | 2.3 |
| Duration of Homeless Episode | ||
| Age First Homeless in Adulthood | ||
| 18–25 | 52 | 14.9 |
| 26–49 | 146 | 41.7 |
| 50–59 | 115 | 32.9 |
| 60 or greater | 37 | 10.6 |
| Duration of Current Episode of Homelessness | ||
| Less than 3 months | 78 | 22.3 |
| 3 months to < 6 months | 37 | 10.6 |
| 6 months to < 12 months | 59 | 16.9 |
| 12 months to < 4 years | 99 | 28.3 |
| 4 years or greater | 77 | 22.0 |
| Duration Since Last Period of Stable Housing (Target Year) | ||
| Less than 3 months | 37 | 10.6 |
| 3 months to < 6 months | 25 | 7.1 |
| 6 months to < 12 months | 53 | 15.1 |
| 12 months to < 4 years | 120 | 34.3 |
| 4 years or greater | 115 | 32.9 |
| Substance Abusea Before Losing Stable Housingb | ||
| Regular Alcohol Use | 199 | 56.9 |
| Regular Cocaine Use | 247 | 70.6 |
| Regular Amphetamine Use | 89 | 25.4 |
| Regular Opioid Use | 86 | 24.6 |
| Mental Illness Before Losing Stable Housingc | ||
| Depression | 177 | 50.6 |
| Anxiety | 154 | 44.0 |
| Suicidal Thoughts | 66 | 18.9 |
| Psychiatric Hospitalization Before Homeless | 46 | 13.1 |
| Incarceration Before Losing Stable Housing | 276 | 78.9 |
| Abuse During Year of Last Stable Housing | ||
| Verbal | 48 | 13.7 |
| Physical | 45 | 12.9 |
| Sexual | 16 | 4.6 |
| Any | 74 | 21.1 |
| Social Supports During Period of Last Stable Housing | ||
| Had Someone to Lend Money (%) | 240 | 69.0 |
| Had Someone to Stay With (%) | 223 | 64.8 |
| Institutional Supports During Period of Last Stable Housing | ||
| Received Government Benefits or Social Security | 246 | 70.3 |
| Had a Primary Care Clinic | 183 | 52.3 |
| Had Health Insurance | 235 | 67.1 |
| Had a Case Manager | 41 | 11.7 |
| Reason Lost Stable Housing | ||
| Never had Stable Housing | 4 | 1.1 |
| Couldn't Pay Rent/Mortgage | 47 | 13.4 |
| Someone Else Stopped Paying Rent/Mortgage | 55 | 15.7 |
| Family Abuse/Violence | 5 | 1.4 |
| Pushed or Kicked Out, for Reasons Other than Payment | 3 | 0.9 |
| Building Condemned/Destroyed/Foreclosed | 18 | 5.1 |
| Moved Elsewhere (to a new city/with someone else) | 32 | 9.1 |
| Enrolled in a Hospital or Drug Treatment Program | 4 | 1.1 |
| Incarcerated or Imprisoned | 16 | 4.6 |
| Poor or Unsafe Housing Conditions | 23 | 6.6 |
| Evicted by Landlord or Asked to Move Out | 43 | 12.3 |
| Break-up or Death or Spouse/Partner | 40 | 11.4 |
| Housemates Using Drugs, Alcohol, or Stealing | 5 | 1.4 |
| Personal Use of Drugs or Alcohol | 13 | 3.7 |
| Conflict With Others in the Household | 38 | 10.9 |
| Mental/Emotional Crisis | 2 | 0.6 |
| No Reason Given | 2 | 0.6 |
a
History of use three times per week or greater, initiated prior to the end of the target year, the last year in which participants had stable housing for 12 months
b
Stable housing defined as living in an apartment or house with tenancy rights, staying with family or friends for free or for rent, or a hotel or motel with tenancy rights
c
Experienced symptoms of mental illness at any time prior to the end of the target year, the last year in which participants had stable housing for 12 months