Homelessness is socially created: cluster analysis of Social Determinants of Homelessness (SODH) in North West England in 2020

Journal article


Mabhala, M., Esealuka, W. A., Nwufo, A. N., Enyinna, C., Mabhala, C. N., Udechukwu, T., Reid, J. and Yohannes, A. 2021. Homelessness is socially created: cluster analysis of Social Determinants of Homelessness (SODH) in North West England in 2020. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (6), pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063066
AuthorsMabhala, M., Esealuka, W. A., Nwufo, A. N., Enyinna, C., Mabhala, C. N., Udechukwu, T., Reid, J. and Yohannes, A.
Abstract

Poverty creates social conditions that increase the likelihood of homelessness. These include exposure to traumatic life experiences; social disadvantages such as poor educational experiences; being raised in a broken family, care homes or foster care; physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; and neglect at an early age. These conditions reduce people’s ability to negotiate through life challenges. This cross-sectional study documents the clustering and frequency of adverse social conditions among 152 homeless people from four cities in North West England between January and August 2020. Two-step cluster analysis showed that having parents with a criminal record, care history, and child neglect/abuse history was predictive of homelessness. The cluster of indicator variables among homeless people included sexual abuse (χ2 (N = 152) = 220.684, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.7), inappropriate sexual behaviour (χ2 (N = 152) = 207.737, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.7), emotional neglect (χ2 (N = 152) = 181.671, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.7), physical abuse by step-parent (χ2 (N = 152) = 195.882, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.8), and physical neglect (χ2 (N = 152) = 205.632, p < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.8). Poverty and homelessness are intertwined because of the high prevalence of poverty among the homeless. Poverty sets up a chain of interactions between social conditions that increase the likelihood of unfavourable outcomes: homelessness is at the end of the interaction chain. Interventions supporting families to rise out of poverty may also reduce entry into homelessness.

Keywordshomelessness; poverty; inequalities;; two-step cluster analysis
Year2021
JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Journal citation18 (6), pp. 1-14
PublisherMDPI
ISSN1660-4601
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063066
Web address (URL)https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/6/3066
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online16 Mar 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted12 Mar 2021
Deposited05 Sep 2025
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