A Life Course Analysis of Homeless Shelter Use among the Formerly Incarcerated

Prior work finds that the formerly incarcerated are at an elevated risk of homelessness. However, studies disagree regarding how these individuals experience homelessness; quantitative research emphasizes homelessness as a temporary obstacle experienced shortly after release, yet ethnographic work suggests that formerly incarcerated individuals experience frequent and/or lengthy bouts and are at risk long after release. Drawing on the life course perspective and nearly eight years of administrative records post release, this study examines patterns and correlates of homeless shelter use in a cohort of individuals released from prison. The results suggest that both immediate and delayed shelter use exist. Although the risk is highest soon after release, approximately half of individuals who used shelters experienced their first spell more than two years after release. Moreover, shelter use spells were prolonged and repeated. Findings also highlight the influence of cumulative disadvantage in understanding who is most at risk for shelter use.