Pediatric emergency department visits for homelessness after shelter eligibility policy change: an interrupted time series analysis

Purpose: Family homelessness in the U.S. is a growing problem, with one in thirty children homeless annually. Massachusetts is the only “right to shelter” state in the U.S., where eligible families cannot be denied placement. In December 2012, a policy was implemented which requires families to prove risk of homelessness by spending a night in a place “not fit for human habitation,” including the emergency department (ED), to qualify for emergency assistance shelter. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency and costs of ED visits by homeless children presenting for homelessness, before and after this policy. …