Rhode Island's Hidden Homeless

Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into the often overlooked dimension of homelessness—doubling up—and its profound impact on housing insecurity. Molly Richard, Assistant Professor of Public Health at the University of Rhode Island, sheds light on how hidden homelessness skews data, affects policy, and requires targeted solutions. In this episode: What doubling up is and how it differs from traditional definitions of homelessness. The challenges in measuring hidden homelessness and the true scale of the crisis. How current federal policies exclude doubling up, impacting eligibility for aid. The connection between economic factors like unemployment and rent costs with doubling up. The importance of broad, multi-pronged strategies to prevent and respond to hidden homelessness. The role of housing affordability, rapid policy innovation, and community-based approaches. Why understanding and addressing doubling up is critical to reducing overall homelessness. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to hidden homelessness and the concept of doubling up 00:27 - Defining doubling up and how it fits into broader homelessness issues 01:24 - The measurement and reporting challenges of doubling up phenomena 02:49 - The real number of doubled-up households and its implication on state figures 03:43 - Impact of federal definitions on homelessness aid eligibility 04:55 - The financial human cost and policy gaps caused by exclusion of doubling up 05:34 - How community data and census estimates reveal the scale of doubling up 06:41 - The connection between structural economic conditions and doubling up 07:39 - Factors influencing who doubles up and regional differences in service access 09:51 - How previous living situations predict future homelessness and prevention opportunities 10:28 - The four-prong strategy for tackling hidden homelessness 11:20 - The importance of flexible, local response systems beyond federal definitions 12:46 - The essential role of affordable housing, economic stability, and innovation 13:35 - The broader economic context influencing housing insecurity and solutions from policymakers 15:37 - Emerging housing solutions like modular homes and zoning considerations 17:07 - Balancing quality and rapid construction in addressing the housing crisis 18:13 - The danger of ignoring hidden homelessness in policy and public perception 19:24 - How research should inform policy to prevent crises before they escalate 20:26 - The significance of early intervention and data tracking for long-term impact 21:02 - The influence of cultural conversations, including pop culture, on understanding homelessness 21:58 - Building on community dialogue to address housing as a spectrum of need 22:03 - Closing thoughts and the importance of expertise in policymaking Resources & Links: Journal of Urban Affairs - Community Level Predictors of Doubling Up US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rhode Island Housing Data & Analysis Population and Housing Census Data Echo Village Modular Housing Pilot (Note: Placeholder link) Connect with Molly Richard: University of Rhode Island - Professor Molly Richard Notable Quote: "Addressing hidden homelessness requires understanding the spectrum of living situations—because when we ignore the unseen, we underestimate the true scale of the crisis." You can use these detailed notes and chapters to enhance your episode's accessibility and engagement. Would you like to generate a thumbnail or create a social media post next? Support the show Follow Bill on Instagram and YouTube