Are Homeless Families Connected to the Social Safety Net?

Publication Date: April 5, 2016
Current as of:

Introduction

This brief examines whether families experiencing homelessness are connected to the benefits and services of the social safety net. We found that — while participation rates varied by program — for most safety net programs, homeless families in our sample reported rates of participation greater than or equal to those of other deeply poor families.

This research brief takes advantage of data collected for the Family Options Study , sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This is the first in a series of research briefs that will draw on data from the Family Options Study to answer questions about family homelessness that are of interest and relevance to HHS and ACF.