Potentially exploring homelessness among refugees: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Homelessness among refugee populations has been increasing worldwide in recent years, which provides particular challenges for receiving nations. In a context in which formal systems supporting asylum seekers and refugees face high demand relative to their resource levels, the impact this may have on the homelessness sector to provide support and accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees has received scant attention. This paper presents a systematic review that synthesizes the literature on the determinants of Homelessness among refugees. The study reviewed seven electronic databases from 2002 to December 2019. Most studies exploring Homelessness among refugees were drawn from Canada, Australia, the UK., and the U.S. Overall, refugees constitute a vulnerable population at heightened risk of becoming homeless. The complex interplay between individual and structural pathways into homeless also makes it difficult for refugees to exit Homelessness. Our metadata analysis of the literature further supports that housing, family, health, community, political circumstances, and income disproportionately impact refugees. This paper identifies these factors as the root causes of refugee's Homelessness. Homelessness can also cause some issues with these six factors in general. In fact, there is a bidirectional causation relationship between Homelessness and these factors to some degree. However, the focus of this paper is on how these factors can contribute to refugee homelessness.