In this study, we provide one of the most expansive and systematic views to date of the role of employment and earnings in a large, sheltered homeless population consisting of both individual and family households. Using matched and aggregated administrative data from SSA and the New York City (NYC) Department of Homeless Services (DHS), we juxtapose aggregated earnings and shelter-use data for 160,525 sheltered adults during two decades of followup. If employment represents a shock of sufficient magnitude to precipitate homelessness, then these data should show associations between declines in employment and earnings and onset of shelter use. Furthermore, a correspondence between exits from homelessness and increases in employment levels and earnings would further underscore the ties between employment and homelessness.

We frame this investigation on three research questions. First, and basically, what is the extent of employment and earnings in a homeless population, before, during and after shelter use? Second, are changes in employment and earnings related to entering and exiting shelter? Finally, how do these dynamics between employment and homelessness differ among adults who are homeless as part of family households and those who are homeless as individuals?