Combatting Rural Homelessness

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-06-05 04:05:00 UTC
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When it comes to rural homelessness, data doesn't tell the whole story. Low-income people in rural areas are just as likely to become homeless as folks in urban areas. The problem is, finding and counting these individuals is enormously challenging. Since there are not as many social services available in less populated areas, there are fewer entities to find and help those who need it. As a result, homeless people who aren't located in urban areas often fly under the radar screen.

But new research out of Maine has gone where few studies have gone before: into the depths of rural homelessness. This study has found that providing permanent, supportive housing for homeless individuals in rural areas is cheaper, more effective, and offers the best quality of life. Here are the details from the State of Maine Housing Authority:

Rural homeless people with disabilities who retained permanent, supportive housing saw a reduction in spending of 32 percent. The study defined permanent supportive housing as affordable housing for those who are homeless, where support services for people with mental illness or co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance abuse are available, either on-site or in other community locations.

The study also reported a 57 percent reduction in the cost of mental health services over a six-month period. Part of that reduction was a dramatic 79 percent drop in the cost of psychiatric hospitalization, from $452,800 to $96,641.

This trailblazing research is promising, since it shows that proven strategies in urban and suburban communities can be effectively applied to areas that are too often forgotten.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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