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CHAPTER 6
BASIC NEEDS
Problems with housing, childcare, transportation, and neighborhood were assessed to determine need for basic services. Figure 6.A presents data on housing problems. Over half (51%) of women in the substance abuse sample reported living in temporary or unstable housing and one in four (25%) reported being homeless in the past three months. Women in the non-affected sample reported significantly fewer housing problems. However, about one in four (28%) also reported living in temporary or unstable housing in the prior three months.
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| [D] |
Figure 6.B presents findings on problems with childcare and transportation. About one in four women in the substance abuse (23%) and non-affected (26%) samples report having some problems with childcare in the past month. About 15% of both samples report those problems to be serious. About two of every three women (69%) in the substance abuse sample reported problems with access to transportation and 40% reported these problems as serious. Women in the non-affected sample reported significantly fewer transportation problems.
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| [D] |
Figure 6.C reported findings on five neighborhood problems: unemployment, drug use, crime, run-down buildings, and environmental pollution. A substantial minority of both samples reported these areas as "big problems" in their neighborhoods. About three in every five (58%) substance abusers reported that two or more of these areas were big problems. Significantly fewer of the non-affected sample (39%) reported their neighborhoods had two or more of these problems. About two of every three (68%) of substance abusers reported drug use was a big problem in their neighborhood.
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Overall, a majority of substance abusers experienced some problems with housing and transportation and a significant minority 15-40% reported experiencing a serious problem with securing adequate housing, transportation, or childcare. In addition, the majority of substance abusers live in neighborhoods where drug use and other factors seriously impact the quality of life. Women in the non-affected sample experienced significantly fewer housing, transportation, and neighborhood problems.
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