NCJ Number
169035
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 32 Issue: 7 & 8 Dated: special issue (June 1997) Pages: 939-968
Date Published
1997
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Because many studies compare traits of homeless adults across levels of alcohol use but few specifically consider whether drinking status affects determinants of either homelessness or vulnerability to homelessness, data were obtained from a 1986 sample of 535 homeless adults in Chicago.
Abstract
The study aimed to consider the potential contributions of resources, social network characteristics, and mental health problems to homelessness. Results suggested that resource problems may determine homelessness regardless of drinking status but that drinking-associated problems may raise the resource threshold for vulnerability to homelessness, reduce the protection afforded by social networks against both homelessness and vulnerability, increase the deleterious impact of disaffiliation, and spur complicating mental health problems. The authors conclude alcohol problems have complex effects, and they recommend further research to assess vulnerability to homelessness in light of available resources to deal with alcohol abuse and other personal-mental health problems. 107 references, 8 notes, 5 tables, and 1 figure