Homelessness: A Data-Driven Learning Guide

Dataset

Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area Drug Study, 1991: Homeless and Transient Population

Data for this exercise come from the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area Drug Study, 1991: Homeless and Transient Population. Research was conducted in 1991 to assess the extent of the drug problem in one metropolitan area. The study included groups not typically included or under-represented in household surveys. The Homeless and Transient Population subset focuses on the homeless and transient population aged 12 and older in the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Statistical Area (DC MSA), with respondents drawn from shelters, soup kitchens and food banks, and major cluster encampments. The study provides information on respondents' history of homelessness, substance abuse and treatment, mental and physical health, employment and finances, illegal activities and arrests, and demographic characteristics.

This exercise uses the following variables:

• Sex (SEX)
• Race (RACE)
• Age (CATAGE)
• Education (EDUCCAT)
• Wprk status (WORK)
• Head of family (MCKFAM)
• Number of minor children (J12)
• Drug user before homeless (DRUGFRST)
• Pattern of drug use (ANYUSE)
• Pattern of heavy alcohol use (ALCUSEHV)
• Physical illness (MCKILL)
• Number of psychological problems in past month (MHSM30_C)

Goal & Concept - Dataset - Application - Interpretation & Summary - Bibliography