Abstract:
This thesis describes characteristics and predictors of entry into homelessness and
becoming doubled-up among families with children. The data used for this analysis is
from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study which interviewed a cohort of
approximately 5,000 families that gave birth to children in the United States between
1998 and 2000. Characteristics of both homeless and doubled-up families were compared
to families that were housed. Univariate analyses were performed on data that was
collected one year, three years, five years, and nine years after the child’s birth to
determine which factors were statistically correlated to being homeless, doubled-up or
housed. In addition, a multinomial logistic regression was performed to determine within
a multivariate framework which factors predicted becoming homeless or doubled up at
each of the interview waves.
