Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
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The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 60:S152-S159 (2005)
© 2005 The Gerontological Society of America

RESEARCH ARTICLE

The Causes of Homelessness in Later Life: Findings From a 3-Nation Study

Maureen Crane1,, Kathleen Byrne2, Ruby Fu1, Bryan Lipmann3, Frances Mirabelli3, Alice Rota-Bartelink3, Maureen Ryan4, Robert Shea5, Hope Watt4 and Anthony M. Warnes1

1 Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield, UK.
2 Elders Living at Home Program, Boston Medical Center, Massachusetts.
3 Wintringham, Flemington, Victoria, Australia.
4 Committee to End Elder Homelessness, Boston, Massachusetts.
5 Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

Address correspondence to Maureen Crane, Sheffield Institute for Studies on Ageing, University of Sheffield, Elmfield, Northumberland Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TU, U.K. E-mail: m.a.crane{at}sheffield.ac.uk

Objectives. This article presents findings from a study of the causes of homelessness among newly homeless older people in selected urban areas of the United States, England, and Australia.

Methods. Interviews were conducted in each country with ≥122 older people who had become homeless during the last 2 years. Information was also collected from the subjects' key workers about the circumstances and problems that contributed to homelessness.

Results. Two-thirds of the subjects had never been homeless before. Antecedent causes were the accommodation was sold or needed repair, rent arrears, death of a close relative, relationship breakdown, and disputes with other tenants and neighbors. Contributory factors were physical and mental health problems, alcohol abuse, and gambling problems.

Discussion. Most subjects became homeless through a combination of personal problems and incapacities, welfare policy gaps, and service delivery deficiencies. Whereas there are nation-specific variations, across the three countries, the principal causes and their interactions are similar.






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