Presentation given by Lars Benjaminsen, DK at the Ninth European Research Conference on Homelessness, "Homelessness in Times of Crisis", Warsaw, September 2014 http://feantsaresearch.org/spip.php?article222&lang=en

1. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The Effect of Family Background on the Risk of Homelessness in a Cohort of Danish Adolescents
Lars Benjaminsen
The Danish National Center for Social Research

2. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Problem
What is the family background of young homeless people?
Do they come from families with severe social problems or broader social segments?
What is the effect of family background, socioeconomic and psychosocial risk factors on the risk of youth homelessness

3. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Data & Methods
Population: A cohort of 62,660 individuals who were 18-years old in 2007
Administrative data for the entire cohort
Analysis data set: 54,464 individuals (87 pct.) with information on all variables.
Homelessness: measured through a stay in a shelter 2007-2011. Data from national client registration system in § 110-shelters
Background variables:
Young persons: Demographics, mental illness, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, NEET, placement out-of-home and other child welfare interventions
Parents: Mental illness, addiction, education, employment when young person was age 10, parents living together at age 10

4. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Profile and prevalence
0.5 % of young males and 0.2 % of young females used a shelter over the five year period
Most young shelter users have complex needs
83 % of young male and 98 % of young female shelter users have either mental illness, substance abuse or both at age 23.
47 % of young male and 53 % of young female shelter users have been placed out-of-home in childhood.
Even in high risk groups the prevalence of shelter use is low
8 % of male and 5 % of female drug abusers used shelters
3 % of males and 1 % of females with mental illness used shelters
11 % of males and 6 % of females with dual diagnosis used shelters
5 % of males and 2 % of females placed out of home in childhood used shelters

5. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Profile of the parents
% of young male shelter users
% of young male non- shelter users
% of young female shelter users
% of young female non- shelter users
No parent employed
25
5
26
5
Parents not living together
53
24
49
24
Parent ever diagnosed with mental illness
33
14
43
15
Parent ever diagnosed with substance abuse
27
8
34
8
Parents have no education beyond compulsory level
32
11
34
11
Parents medium education (vocational/short)
52
54
53
54
Parents high education level (professional)
16
36
13
36

6. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Risk model
Risk factor
Model 1
Parent variables (OR)
Model 2
Full model (OR)
Family background
Parents mental illness
1,7**
1,1
Parents substance abuse
1,8**
1,1
Parents education, compulsory vs. long
4,0***
2,5***
Parents education, vocational vs. medium/long
2,0**
1,7*
Parents not employed
2,9***
1,8**
Parents not living together
2,0***
1,0
Own vulnerabilities
Out-of-home placement
3,0***
Mental illness at age 23
4,5***
Drug abuse at age 23
8,3***
Alcohol abuse at age 23
2,6***
NEET at age 23
3,0***

7. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
2 Clusters of young shelter users
Factor
Cluster 1
Cluster 2
Number of people in cluster (n)
At least one parent with mental illness
74
6
At least one parent with substance abuse
58
6
Both parents without work at age 10
53
5
Placed out-of-home in childhood
72
31
NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) , at age 18
76
30
NEET, at age 23
87
70
Mental illness, at age 18
39
26
Mental illness, at age 23
75
65
Drug abuse at age 18
16
15
Drug abuse, at age 23
55
52

8. 9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
The heterogeneity of family background of young shelter users
About half of young shelter users are from families with severe problems, many of their parents are out of work and/or have mental illness and substance abuse. Many of the young people have been placed out-side home during childhood. They develop mental illness and substance abuse problems early during their youth.
Policy implications group 1: Early interventions – aimed at both the children and the parents, Aftercare in the transition from child welfare system to the adult welfare system.
The other half of young shelter users come from broader social segments. Few of their parents have mental illness or addiction problems and most parents have work. These young people also develop mental illness and/or addiction problems during adolescence /early adulthood.
Policy implications group 2: Early screening/detection of mental illness and addiction problems. and early interventions. Early interventions - integration between youth psychiatric, addiction and social services.