What happens over the long term to families entering shelters and other housing programs? The Service Housing Interventions for Families in Transition (SHIFT) study offers some answers. Mothers were interviewed three times over 30 months on employment, mental health, trauma history, and other issues.

Average age of mothers interviewed: 29

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Percent African American: 62

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Percent white: 24

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Percent Latina or other: 14

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Range of children these mothers had, including impending births: 0 – 11

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Portion of these women with a high school degree or GED: 1/3

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With some college education or a two-year degree: 1/3

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Percent of mothers unemployed when the study started: 84

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When the study ended: 61

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Percent of mothers who had experienced trauma, such as interpersonal violence: 93

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Who suffered multiple episodes of trauma: 81

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Who were physically abused as adults: 51

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Who were sexually abused as children: 42

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Percent of mothers who met the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder when the study started: 50

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When the study ended: 40

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Percent of mothers who were homeless as children: 20

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Percent of families that were residentially unstable after 15 months: 63

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After 30 months: 49

Source: The SHIFT Study: Final Report (2013)