Family Separation: Findings from the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Family separations are common among people experiencing homelessness. There has been limited research that focuses on parents experiencing homelessness who are separated from their children, with much of this work focusing primarily on parents staying in shelters. Using structured interviews and purposive in-depth interviews from a representative sample of adults experiencing homelessness in California, we examined both family separation and reunification. Among 945 participants who had minor children, 43.6% were separated from at least one of them. Participants who were cis-women, reported current regular drug use, or had a mental health disorder had a higher risk of family separation; participants who reported current heavy alcohol use and participants who experienced IPV did not have a higher risk of family separation. Participants who were Black/African American, older in age, or had a higher monthly income had decreased odds of family separation. Despite the qualitative interviews not including questions on family separations, 45 respondents brought them up spontaneously. In these, we found that both homelessness itself and a confluence of disruptive events with ongoing hardships led to family separations. IPV was related to both experiences of and fear of family separation. Family members cared for children during parent-child separations. Participants tried to maintain physical proximity and emotional closeness while separated. Participants emotionally reconnected with their adult children. Often, families required housing to be reunified with their children. The intersection of family separation and homelessness is shaped by many complex factors. Since homelessness and family separations are related, disrupting homelessness could prevent family separations and facilitate reunification.