A new 2015 Minnesota Homeless Study fact sheet highlights initial findings related to why people in Minnesota are homeless. A few findings include:

• Lack of affordable housing remains a critical issue: 46% of homeless adults age 18 or older are on a waiting list for subsidized housing.
• Employment continues to rise after reaching a low point in 2009: 30% of homeless adults are employed.
• Homelessness is often preceded by childhood trauma and abuse: 39% of adults age 18 and older were physically abused, 33% experienced an out-of-home placement, and 37% lived with a parent or guardian with mental health issues.
• Persistent physical and mental health issues are on the rise for homeless adults: 57% of homeless adults report serious mental health issues compared with 36% in 2000; 51% report chronic physical health issues compared with 39% in 2000.

Who is homeless? What services do they receive? Who provides these services? The Homeless Management Information System helps to answer these questions. On his blog, executive director Paul Mattessich explores the history of, and Wilder Research's evolving role in, this valuable system.

Read the post.

The Speaking for Ourselves study provides up-to-date data about the experiences of immigrants and refugees who live in Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

New on the Wilder blog, study director Nicole MartinRogers presents 3 Ways to Use Speaking for Ourselves Data in Your Work.

• Download Ideas at Work: Addressing Needs and Assets in Immigrant and Refugee Communities, in which several organizations provide insight about working with immigrant communities to address key issues voiced in the survey.

• See photos from the Speaking for Ourselves Action Summit.

• Learn more about the study.

Early Childhood Forum
May 23, 10 a.m. - noon
Share your knowledge, experience, observations, and voice at an early childhood conversation focused on creating racially equitable policies to promote prenatal-to-age-3 opportunities and well-being for all children.
Learn more and register.

Wilder Research Information Session
June 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
This quarterly session for prospective employees allows you to learn more about our work and our research positions, and includes time for Q & A with a senior research manager.
Learn more and register by contacting Kara Malmgren.

Minnesota Compass staff have been furiously updating data throughout the website, including:

• Hundreds of geographic profiles, including all 113 Minneapolis and Saint Paul neighborhoods and more than 350 towns and cities statewide.
• New "Groups at a Glance" profiles for Minnesota's older adults and specific immigrant populations.

Explore the new data.

Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
Results of a statewide needs assessment exploring engagement with statewide initiatives, availability of services received and needed, and experiences with health care providers.

Women's Recovery Services in Minnesota
Evaluation results from an initiative serving chemically dependent women and their children.

Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation
Evaluation exploring how programs can better capture information about the mental health needs of their clients in a culturally aware way.

See all the latest studies from Wilder Research.