Title
Risk and Resilience Factors Associated with Formal and Informal Income Generation among Homeless Young Adults in Three U.S. Cities.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Organizational Units
Graduate School of Social Work
Abstract
This study used the risk and resilience framework to examine predictors of formal and informal sources of income among homeless young adults. Formal sources of income generation consisted of full-time, part-time, or paid, temporary work. Informal sources included earning money from selling personal possessions, selling drugs, and theft. In all, 601 homeless young adults from three U.S. cities participated in semi-structured interviews. Structural equation modeling assessed whether demographic, homelessness history, mental health, problem behaviors, and resilience predicted income generation source. Income generation from formal sources was associated with being male, having a greater number of problem behaviors, and reporting higher levels of resilience. Informal income generation was associated with younger age, being transient, and reporting a greater number of problem behaviors. Findings underscore the need to address homelessness risk factors to support homeless young adults in securing stable, formal employment as an alternative to informal survival behaviors to earn income.
Compass Link
https://du-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/1jii0mc/TN_cdi_crossref_primary_10_1177_0044118X15600722
Recommended Citation
Ferguson-Colvin, K., Bender, K., & Thompson, S. J. (2018). Risk and resilience factors associated with formal and informal income generation among homeless young adults in three U.S. cities. Youth and Society, 50(3), 351-376. doi: 10.1177/0044118X15600722
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