Housing Instability as a Distinct Risk Factor in Child Protective Services Investigations: Insights from a Longitudinal Study

Robert L. Fischer, Ph.D.
Grace Longwell Coyle Professor in Civil Society
Director, Center on Poverty and Community Development
Chair, Master of Nonprofit Organizations Program
Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School
of Applied Social Sciences
Case Western Reserve University

Housing instability—including homelessness, doubling up, and eviction—is a prevalent issue affecting millions of families in the United States, with well-documented deleterious consequences. Families facing housing instability are at increased risk of child protective services (CPS) involvement, including a higher likelihood of child placement in foster care and reduced chances of reunification. Despite this, significant gaps remain in understanding the relationship between housing instability and CPS involvement. These gaps include: (1) narrow definitions of both housing instability and CPS involvement; (2) a lack of longitudinal analyses; and (3) limited insight into the compounding effects of material hardship alongside housing instability on CPS outcomes. To address these gaps, this study utilized four waves of data from the Illinois Families Study, focusing on low-income families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). A transitional model was employed to examine the association between housing instability and CPS investigations, while also assessing whether material hardship moderated this relationship. Families experiencing housing instability were significantly more likely to undergo CPS investigations. This association persisted even after accounting for material hardship, highlighting the distinct association between housing instability and CPS investigations. These results underscore the need for integrated policies and practices that provide prevention efforts for families experiencing housing instability prior to CPS involvement. This study contributes to the growing body of research on the intersection of housing instability and CPS, advocating for comprehensive, cross-sector strategies to improve prevention efforts.

Robert L. Fischer is the Grace Longwell Coyle Professor in Civil Society at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences of Case Western Reserve University, where he leads a range of evaluation research studies and teaches evaluation methods to graduate students in social work and nonprofit management. He is also Co-Director of the The Center on Poverty and Community Development. Since 2001, he has led the Center’s research on Invest in Children, a county-wide early childhood initiative that includes home visiting, children’s health, and childcare components. Dr. Fischer is also faculty director of the Master of Nonprofit Organizations (MNO) degree program.