Homelessness

'While addictive and mental disorders appeared to play little or no rolein causing homelessness in more than one-half of 1,437 single homeless adults [studied in Santa Clara County, California], both of these problems increased significantly after people lost their residence. The increase in addictive and psychiatric problems following homelessness suggests that interventions that prevent loss of housing will be more effective and less costly than interventions that provide economic and social assistance after the loss of shelter,"

Marilyn Winkleby, Ph.D., senior research

scientist, Stanford Center for Research

In Disease Prevention.