Homelessness

2. Individual and Relational Factors

Failed Relationships

A divorce or a bad break-up can cause someone to end up homeless. This is especially true for women and children. Most homeless mothers who end up in family shelters are victims of domestic abuse.

Mental Health Issues

It’s an undeniable fact that our country’s jails and pavements have become our de facto mental institution. You may not notice it but many homeless people are suffering from various forms of mental health issues. This usually prevents them from getting a job or holding on to a job and thus becoming homeless.

Death of a Loved One

Losing a loved one can have a profound effect on us. It can lead to depression and a tendency to “let go” of ourselves. For children, the loss of a parent or both parents can put them in a very vulnerable situation and increases their risk of homelessness. Most of those who don’t have anyone willing to take them in often find themselves jumping from one foster home to another. While those who are too old for the foster system end up in shelters, or worse, the streets.

Addictions

We all have things we are addicted to. But some addictions can ruin lives. Unfortunately, our society’s pre-programmed reaction to addiction, particularly illegal drugs, is endless condemnation. They are often derided by the people who are supposed to help them. This is why a lot of them end up homeless.

Family Problems

A lot of the homeless kids who end up in shelters have run away from home, mostly due to family problems.

3. Systemic Factors

Lack of Mental Health Support

Despite the country’s glaring problem on mental health, it only has a little over 600 non-federal psychiatric hospitals. The country also has less than 5,000 outpatient facilities. While the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are about 46.6 million adults in the US who are living with a mental disorder.

Even if we don’t crunch the numbers, it’s fairly obvious that we need to ramp up our mental health support system. With no one to turn to, people struggling with mental health issues often have trouble finding a job and keeping their homes.

Lack of Access to Medical Care

The rising costs of healthcare in the country often puts disadvantaged people in perpetual debt. The money that was supposed to be for rent also goes to their medical expenses. So it’s not surprising that a lot of them get turned out of their homes.

Effects of Homelessness

You may not realize it but homelessness affects not just the individual experiencing homelessness, it leaves an impact on society too. Some of the most significant impacts of homelessness are:

On an Individual

1. Health Issues

Sleeping rough and exposed to the elements can take a toll on someone’s health. Plus, not eating regularly can weaken one’s immune system. This is why homeless people are very much prone to diseases, especially in winter and during the flu season. This includes tuberculosis, cardio-respiratory diseases, HIV/AIDS, and skin illnesses.

2. Personal and Psychological Issues

When someone loses their home, it can also mean losing everything they have and all they’ve ever worked for. This, in turn, can do a number on their self-confidence. It affects their self-worth and how they see themselves, often leading to depression and other mental illnesses.

3. Increased Propensity to Substance Abuse

While many people lose their homes due to substance abuse, it’s also one of the biggest consequences of homelessness. According to studies, over a third of the homeless population have drug and alcohol problems. Another study reported that up to two-thirds of people experiencing homelessness have a lifetime history of alcoholism and drug abuse.

4. Worsened Violent Tendencies

Part of surviving on the streets is learning to be aggressive. That’s why for many chronically homeless people, aggression has become a norm. So if a person already has anger management issues before becoming homeless, living rough will only worsen their violent tendencies. Needless to say, this can pose a security risk not just to the homeless person but also to the community.

5. Increased Risk of Incarceration

According to the American Psychological Association, homeless people bouncing from shelter to shelter are more likely to commit a crime. It can range from “nuisance offenses” such as panhandling or turnstile jumping in the subway to serious felonies like robbery or assault.

6. Sexual Assault

Homeless women with mental illness are 97% at risk of violent victimization. This is why sexual assault and harassment are such common experiences among them. While 27% of homeless men and 38% of transgendered people have reported incidents of rape. That’s how prevalent sexual abuse is for people experiencing homelessness.

On Society

1. Increased Cost of Public Services

Studies reveal that the government spends more on public services for the homeless than if they were to give them homes. And that money came from your taxes. So before you shrug and say that the country’s homelessness problem doesn’t really concern you, better think again.

2. Social Barriers

Homelessness widens the existing social barriers. It underscores the wealth gap in the country which, in turn, fuels hate and division among the people.

3. Public Health Threat

Not only are homeless people more prone to illnesses, but they are also more likely to transmit infectious diseases. This could pose a threat to public health, especially during epidemics.

What We Can Do to End Homelessness

Now that you have an idea about the causes and effects of homelessness, let’s talk about what you can do to end it. Yes, you, me, and everyone else, in our own little ways, can all help in addressing homelessness. Here are some of the things we can do:

Educate

The first step to eliminating homelessness is to change the world’s perception of it. Start by educating your family, neighbors, and acquaintances about homelessness.

Create Awareness

Since not everyone has experienced homelessness, the true extent of the problem is only known to those who have been through it or those who are working against it. What we can do is to create awareness so as to drum up public support and effect policy changes.

Volunteer

Many local charities like soup kitchens and shelters are actively helping the homeless and they are usually in need of volunteers.

Empathize

Rather than criticizing the homeless, try to put yourself in their shoes. Understand where they’re coming from and why they ended up in such dire circumstances.

Eradicating homelessness is not something that can be done overnight or by the government alone. It’s an unfortunate cycle that has affected and will continue to affect many generations. And according to the US Department of Health, it will take more than just providing adequate housing to keep people out of the streets. It takes the collective effort of everyone from government officials to private individuals. Together, we can make this world a better place to live in.

5. It Creates Social Barriers

Homelessness brings with it a social stigma. Those who experience it often live in shame and isolation. They’re trying to survive and they are desperate for help. But the fear of condemnation often prevents them from reaching out.

On the flip side of the coin, those who haven’t experienced homelessness will never be able to fully grasp what the homeless are going through. They tend to shrug them off as lazy bums who just can’t be bothered to work.

The lack of empathy from one side and the fear of being judged by the other often lead to a breakdown of communication. This, in turn, drives a thick invisible wall between the two sides. It becomes an “us” versus “them” instead of “we” against poverty.

This social barrier only serves to bring to the fore those deeply rooted biases against the most vulnerable members of society.

6. It Shapes the Next Generation

Children who are born to homeless parents often grow up to become homeless adults themselves. This is how homelessness affects even the next generation. The homelessness cycle will repeat itself for generations unless someone fights to break out of it.

Unfortunately, when all you’ve known your whole life is homelessness, it becomes your norm. That’s what happens with homeless children. The impacts of homelessness begin even before they are born.

Deprived of proper prenatal care, many children born into homelessness often suffer from poor physical health. Being homeless also often prevents them from going to school. Many of them also tend to develop serious mental health issues while growing up. All these can have a negative effect on their ability to live a normal life. As such, only very few manage to break the cycle.

What You Can Do

There are lots of factors that cause homelessness. People end up on the streets due to economic hardships, family issues, domestic violence, mental illness, or just plain lack of affordable housing. This means that most of us are just a divorce or one serious illness away from homelessness. That’s why this is not just something that the government alone can solve. Ending homelessness requires the collective effort of everyone from all members of society. And yes, that includes you.

3. Salt Lake City, Utah

In 2015, Salt Lake City officials announced that they have virtually eliminated homelessness in the city. Of course, that’s quite a stretch especially now that the city is again experiencing a spike in homelessness. But it cannot be denied that the city has done something right when it comes to ending homelessness.

Ten years ago, the city started a homeless initiative that prioritizes housing for the homeless. Instead of the typical run-of-the-mill housing in a shady part of town, they built spaces that homeless people would actually want to live in. They’re standard quality, aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly affordable for people on housing programs.

4. Berkeley, California

Four years ago, Berkeley was in the throes of a homeless crisis. A survey in January 2017 concluded that about 1% of the city’s population is homeless. Though the numbers haven’t improved drastically over the past few years, living in the city has some advantages when you’re homeless.

For one, the city has mild weather for most of the year. This makes it more conducive to living outdoors. Berkeley is also home to a number of non-profit organizations that serve the homeless.

Recently, the city has also implemented the Coordinated Entry System (CES). It’s a program that aims to:

• streamline the homeless assessment process and services
• prioritize disabled and chronically homeless people
• create a central coordination system for referrals

Part of the program is a hotline that homeless people can call for emergency shelter, transitional housing, and other homeless services.

5. San Diego, California

Like Berkeley, San Diego has a moderate climate suitable for living outdoors. Though the city still has one of the largest homeless population in the country, it’s actively taking steps to curb the problem.

Aside from providing homeless services, the city also built tents and temporary shelters. It also has various non-profit organizations that provide food, shelter, and other necessary services to the homeless.

The city’s housing first policy has also moved thousands of homeless people from temporary shelters to permanent housing.

6. New Orleans, Louisiana

After hurricane Katrina, the number of homeless people in New Orleans has skyrocketed. In 2007, the city has about 12,000 homeless people or about 10,000 more from before Katrina. But in 2018, the city has managed to bring it down to less than 1,200.

Like most cities in this list, New Orlean’s success is largely due to its housing first policy. The city used federal funds to create permanent housing for homeless people without requiring them to get over their addiction. They have also put up a hundred low-barrier shelters where people can stay without having to sober up.

Though homelessness remains a major issue in the country, the progress made by these cities gives us hope. And we can only wish that other cities can learn a thing or two from them.

2. Donate to Homeless Charities

Countless charitable institutions all over the country are fighting to end homelessness in their own ways. These organizations help give people experiencing homelessness a second chance at a decent life. You can be a part of the fight too.

Most of these charities are funded by donations. Even if you’re no Bill Gates or Jeff Bezos, you can still donate to them. Any amount, heartily given, is a huge help to ease their suffering. Some of the homeless charities in the US you can donate to are:

• Salvation Army
• Feeding America
• National Coalition for the Homeless
• National Alliance to End Homelessness
• Camillus House
• Habitat for Humanity
• Covenant House
• Our Father’s House Soup Kitchen

3. Give Out Care Packages

Care packages are one way of helping people experiencing homelessness get through the day. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Just grab some ready-to-eat foods and personal hygiene items you have at home and put them in a paper bag. Carry these care packages around and give them to a homeless person you meet on the street. You can check out these ideas on making care packages for the homeless.

Winter is especially difficult for people with no place to lay their heads in. Shelters are also packed during this time. As a result, many homeless have to sleep in the frozen pavements. Most of the time, their threadbare clothing is barely enough to keep them warm. If you have some blankets or socks to spare, that would make a world of difference to them.

4. Advocate

One of the most foolproof ways of ending homelessness is educating the people. Educate your friends and family that homelessness does not stem from laziness or addiction.

Instead, people experiencing homelessness are also just victims. They need our understanding and sympathy as much as anyone else. Support calls for affordable housing. Use your voice to campaign for legislation and programs to help prevent and end homelessness.

With enough people advocating to end homelessness, sooner or later the right people will hear you.

5. Volunteer

If you can’t donate money, you can always donate your time. Many homeless charities and programs are in need of volunteers. There are a lot of tasks where you can use your expertise in.

You can help cook foods in a soup kitchen or build a home in low-cost housing programs. Many volunteers also do administrative jobs like social media management or accounting. There’s a wide variety of jobs a volunteer can do.

6. Raise Funds

Most charitable organizations organize fundraising campaigns from time to time. It’s a way of rallying the community together to support a common cause.

If you can’t donate or volunteer, you can always help them raise funds. Or why not organize a fundraising campaign yourself?

7. Help Them Get a Job

Though many homeless people have jobs, social stigma prevents them from finding a decent job with a livable wage. And this is very important for someone experiencing homelessness. If they’ll earn enough to afford a room of their own, it’s one step closer to getting out of homelessness.

So if you are hiring or you know someone who does, consider giving a homeless person an opportunity to rebuild their lives. Sometimes, all they need is a chance and someone to believe in them.

What Do The Homeless Do All Day?

If you found yourself wondering about this, then you’re not the only one. This is a common question about homeless people. There’s a misconception that homeless people just bum around all day spending welfare money.

But nothing could be farther from the truth. Homeless people spend their day just like the rest of us – trying to improve their lot in life.

For many homeless people, the day starts even before the city stirs to life. Waking up from the icy pavements, most of them line up in public washrooms or wherever they can clean themselves. Then they prepare to go to work or look for work.

Yes, contrary to popular belief, homeless people have jobs too. In fact, a survey in California found that about 13% of the homeless population is working full time. They just don’t earn enough to afford rent.

Of course, getting a job or keeping one when you’re homeless can be especially challenging. Social prejudices against homeless people often keep employers from hiring them. Even if they overcome that stigma, applying for a job and showing up in interviews can be difficult when you’re sleeping rough.

Those who can’t get a job are often forced to panhandle or rely on social programs to fill their stomach for the day. Sometimes, they have to walk for miles to find a food bank or a soup kitchen. Remember, they don’t have cars and most likely no money for Uber either. So a trip that usually takes just a few minutes for most of us can take hours of walking for a homeless person.

This is how most homeless people spend their day. But when you’re living on the streets, each day is a fight to survive. So there is no such thing as a “typical” homeless experience.

Where Do Homeless People Sleep?

Not all homeless people sleep on the street. Remember that there are varying degrees of homelessness. Some homeless people move back home with their parents or crash on their friend’s couches. Others stay in garages/sheds, backyard tents, and even parking lots. They may have homes but they’re still technically homeless. When the hospitality wears out, they usually end up on the streets.

Then there’s the second type of homeless – the ones who stay in shelters. Most shelters require some form of rent from their occupants. So most of those staying in shelters either have jobs or are receiving welfare. Shelters also set a maximum occupancy period so they can’t stay in there forever. Though there are many shelters around the country, they’re not enough to house everyone. Most of those who get turned out of shelters have to live in their cars or wherever they can find a safe place to lay their heads in.

But due to ordinances banning camping and sleeping in public areas, homeless people can’t just sleep wherever they want. In San Diego, doing such can even lead to jail time.

The Dangers of Living on the Streets

Every living space has its own share of risks. But when you’re living on the streets, the risks of bodily harm or even death is significantly higher.

Reports of violence against homeless people usually include incidences of:

• being deliberately hit or kicked
• having things thrown at them
• being urinated on
• sexual assault
• verbal abuse
• intimidation and harassment

Aside from these acts of violence, homeless people also have to contend with the ever-present threat of starvation. On particularly harsh winters, the danger of freezing to death is also a grim possibility.

It’s a Place of Refuge

We all have those moments where we just want to take a break from the rest of the world. Home is where you can do just that. It’s that little slice of paradise that is completely your own. It’s where you can be in your pajamas while eating ice cream right off the tub in your bed – and not worry about anyone judging you. It’s your personal sanctuary, the only place you can be totally yourself. But more than that, it’s where you can hide and cry when things just seem to be so overwhelming and where you know someone will always be there for you.

Home Means a Future

When someone has a place to call home, it gives them a sense of security and stability. Once you have these two things, you can stop thinking about surviving day in and day out. You can finally look beyond the horizon and into the distant future.

For some people, this is how important a home is. It allows them to start dreaming and make plans for the future. It’s where hopes and dreams take shape and slowly becomes a reality.

What Does Home Mean For the Homeless?

No matter your definition of home, one thing is clear: everybody deserves one. From the birds making their nest in the trees to the earthworms burrowing on the ground, all creatures big and small deserve a place to call home.

If you have one to call your own, then you are very lucky. But many people around the world aren’t. Every year, the number of homeless people continues to rise. It’s just ridiculous how having a home nowadays seems like a privilege rather than a basic human right.

Yes, home is more than just a walled structure that protects you from the elements. But it can be difficult to feel warmth, security, and stability when you’re sleeping on the cold pavement. It’s hard to dream about the future when you don’t even know where to get your next meal.

There’s a reason why the homeless are called “homeless” and not “houseless”. Their troubles extend far beyond not having a house.

According to a Canadian news website, home can also mean various things for the homeless. One homeless woman shared that home for her means protection from abuse and finally having the time to confront her mental illness. It gives her hope and self-esteem. Another wrote that a home means a stable ground from which they can start to find their way back into society.

If you’ve never been homeless, it can be hard to understand where they’re coming from. It’s one of those things that you’ll only fully appreciate once you’re in it. But this shouldn’t hinder you from extending a helping hand. We may not be able to provide them the security of a house but we can make them feel loved, safe, and appreciated. In our own little ways, we can help them feel that someone still believes in them so they’ll feel confident in themselves again. After all, that’s what home is about.

11. This very moment

This moment right now is something you will never ever go back to for the rest of your life. Time is precious and the fact that we get it for free is something we should appreciate.

12. The people that care for you

If you have people that care for you, constantly checks on you, and want you to be a better person, they are your greatest blessings.

13. Bad days

If it were up to us, we’d rather not have bad days. But it is those days that make you appreciate the good ones.

14. Peaceful mornings

The relative serenity of early mornings is sometimes our only haven in this fast-paced world.

15. Living on this beautiful planet

The Earth might not be the biggest or the most beautiful planet in the universe but it’s perfect for us. This scarred but amazing planet has provided us with the means to live for billions of years.

16. Your voice

If you can still speak and sing, then consider it a blessing. Not everyone enjoys such privilege.

17. Your parents

Your relationship with your parents may not be perfect but they gave life to you. I’m sure they love you too, though they may have different ways of expressing it.

18. Having clothes to wear

Again, if you’re wearing clean clothes right now, you are better off than half the world’s population.

19. Being a citizen of a country

According to UNHCR, there are around ten million people around the world who are stateless. So even if you don’t like some aspects of your country, you should still be thankful that you have one to call your own. 

20. The ability to love and be loved

Being able to give and receive love is one of the most special gifts endowed to us.

21. Your senses

The ability to see, hear, smell, and touch things is a blessing that not all people get to enjoy.

22. The people who rejected you

Rejections and disappointments make you stronger. So instead of hating on the people who rejected you, thank them. If not for them, you wouldn’t be the strong, courageous person you are today.

23. Your job

With unemployment rates skyrocketing, having a job in this economy is a blessing.

24. The people who hate you

Just like the people who rejected you, your enemies also help you become a better person. They inspire you to prove to the world that you are so much better than the person they think you are.

25. Nature

4. Borrow Some Money

If you’re being evicted because you’re falling behind on rent, borrowing some money will solve your dilemma. If you have a job, you can try applying for payday loans. Some places are also offering loans online. Or you can always ask friends and family for a temporary loan. This especially works if you’re expecting or have just started a job and just need some cash to keep you afloat until the next payday.

5. Sell Some Stuff

Aside from loans, selling your stuff is another way of raising that much-needed rent money. You can sell clothes, jewelry, gadgets, collectibles, some furniture – anything that’s not essential. If that’s not enough, you can also sell your car.

6. Move-in With Friends or Family

If all of the above fails and you’re still getting booted out of your house, then the next obvious choice is moving in with friends and family.

You can ask friends if you can couch surf for a few days. Just until you’re able to get back on your feet. If some past issue prevents you from moving-in with family members, then consider this as an opportunity to reconnect.

This will affect your ego, of that there’s no doubt. But if it means not sleeping on the pavement, then it’s worth a bruised ego. Besides, if they really care for you, they’ll understand.

7. Look for a Local Shelter

Unfortunately, not all of us have people we can turn to in situations like this. If you’ve just moved to the city or have just immigrated, your family and friends might be miles away to be of some help. In cases like this, local shelters are your best bet.

Shelters are designed to provide accommodation for people with nowhere to go. In some cities, the shelters can be packed. Most shelters also have curfews.

8. Live in Your Car

This might be the first option you had in mind when thinking about your impending eviction. And it’s really practical – if you live in a humid area. But in the northern part of the country, the winters can be unforgiving. If your car doesn’t have a heating mechanism, you could freeze to death. So if you’re planning to live in your car for the time being, it should be as a last resort.

2. Dark Days

We’ve often heard about people living in squalid conditions but this documentary can still shock and horrify even the most placid of viewers.

The documentary follows the lives of people living in New York’s underground tunnels. But despite its black and white aesthetics, it presents a picture of hope. It does not paint poverty in a bleak way as we’ve come to expect in most documentaries.

Rather, it shows us that these people are very much just like us. Their days are focused on earning a living, taking care of family, and socializing. It’s just that they do it literally under the city’s towering skyrise buildings. They have no electricity or even running water. But their ingenuity and optimism that helped them survive in such conditions can also serve as an inspiration for all of us.

3. Field Niggas

A critically-acclaimed documentary, Field Niggas focuses on the lives of homeless people in New York’s Harlem Street. Most of which are African-Americans who are either recovering from addiction or have just been released from prison. It presents a clear-eyed depiction of the struggles of the country’s marginalized sectors. It also touches other social issues that plague the country such as racial divide, mass incarceration, addiction, and an ever-widening wealth gap.

4. In the Wee Wee Hours

Although shot in the mid-’80s, this documentary’s depiction of homelessness still very much resonates today. Its confrontational approach of presenting homelessness earned it an Academy nomination for Best Short Documentary.

Combining interviews with footage at shelters and soup kitchens around L.A., the film offers a raw, unfiltered picture of homelessness.

5. It Was a Wonderful Life

Just like “Us and Them”, this documentary zooms in on the life of homeless women. Dubbed as the “hidden homeless”, these women don’t fit the stereotypical homeless. They’re educated, sophisticated and at some point had even enjoyed affluence. One was a successful singer, another was a painter who once lived in Malibu with her servants, another was a law student. They’re the sort of people you’d never expect to become homeless and yet they have. Their stories are a stark reminder that most of us are just one divorce or one wrong choice away from homelessness.