Rural Families Experiencing Homelessness: Demographics, Program Design, Outcome of High Barrier Transitional Housing and Rehabilitation Program

To date most research on homelessness has centered on urban and metropolitan environments, with little data on the characteristics of rural families experiencing homelessness. This study presents characteristics of a sample of rural families experiencing homelessness and describes the structure, immediate outcomes, and cost of a community designed transitional family housing program. Study findings suggest these families face complex and varied challenges similar to other populations experiencing homelessness. The diversity of the population supports the idea that housing programs for families experiencing homelessness in both rural and urban settings should offer programs that are service intensive and of sufficient duration to allow for a tailored approach. This research highlights that, in rural communities, family homelessness can be a product of more than a lack of affordable housing. To be most successful, in addition to providing stable housing in a safe and secure environment, attention to cost-effective interventions that maintain family unity must include a wide range of services for the whole family.