Understanding Homelessness: Causes and Effects

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.