Solving Homelessness from a Complex Systems Perspective: Insights for Prevention Responses

Homelessness represents an enduring public health threat facing communities across the developed world. Children, families, and marginalized adults face life course implications of housing insecurity, while communities struggle to address the extensive array of needs within heterogeneous homeless po...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of public health 2019-04, Vol.40 (1), p.465-486
Main Authors: Fowler, Patrick J, Hovmand, Peter S, Marcal, Katherine E, Das, Sanmay
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Child
complex systems
homelessness
homelessness prevention
housing insecurity
housing policy
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons
Public Assistance - organization & administration
Public Health
system dynamics
Systems Integration
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Summary:Homelessness represents an enduring public health threat facing communities across the developed world. Children, families, and marginalized adults face life course implications of housing insecurity, while communities struggle to address the extensive array of needs within heterogeneous homeless populations. Trends in homelessness remain stubbornly high despite policy initiatives to end homelessness. A complex systems perspective provides insights into the dynamics underlying coordinated responses to homelessness. A constant demand for housing assistance strains service delivery, while prevention efforts remain inconsistently implemented in most countries. Feedback processes challenge efficient service delivery. A system dynamics model tests assumptions of policy interventions for ending homelessness. Simulations suggest that prevention provides a leverage point within the system; small efficiencies in keeping people housed yield disproportionately large reductions in homelessness. A need exists for policies that ensure reliable delivery of coordinated prevention efforts. A complex systems approach identifies capacities and constraints for sustainably solving homelessness.
ISSN:0163-7525
1545-2093
DOI:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040617-013553