Table 1 Characteristics of the study sample, homeless persons staying in shelters in Helsinki metropolitan area, Finland, year 2008 (N = 158)
Characteristics | N (%) |
|---|---|
Sex | |
Male | 116 (73.4%) |
Female | 42 (26.2%) |
Marital status | |
Single | 75 (47.5%) |
Divorced | 61 (38.6%) |
Married | 13 (8.2%) |
Widowed | 4 (2.5%) |
Unknown | 5 (3.1%) |
Length of homelessness | |
< 1 year | 60 (38.0%) |
1–5 years | 50 (31.6%) |
> 5 years | 37 (23.4%) |
Unknown | 11 (7.0%) |
Reasons for evictions and homelessness | |
Disturbing lifestyle | 49 (31.0%) |
Unpaid rent | 30 (19.0% |
Divorce or separation | 12 (7.6%) |
Termination of temporary tenancy agreement | 12 (7.6%) |
Voluntary termination of contract | 8 (5.1%) |
Unknown | 47 (29.7%) |
Income | |
Pensions or sick leave | 71 (44.9%) |
Social assistance or no income | 45 (28.5%) |
Earnings related income allowance | 24 (15.2%) |
Salaries/earned income | 4 (2.5%) |
Unknown | 14 (8.9%) |
Detox treatments in the past 3 years | |
0 | 97 (61.4%) |
1–3 | 33 (20.9%) |
4–37 | 28 (17.7%) |
Charlson comorbidity index score | |
0 | 113 (71.5%) |
1 | 32 (20.3%) |
2–3 | 8 (5.1%) |
4–6 | 5 (3.2%) |