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Causes and Consequences of Homelessness

According to a 2007 study by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, about 3.5 million people are homeless during a given year. A 2008 study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors listed the most common causes of homelessness as lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse.

  1. Affordable Housing

    • The lack of affordable housing in many areas contributes to homelessness. There is little money left over when a high percentage of a person's income goes to pay rent. Without sufficient savings, one or two emergencies can push low income people into homelessness.

    Unemployment

    • Unemployment rates rise during recessions as companies let workers go. Local governments and community charities often do not have enough resources to provide temporary housing and financial support for the rapidly increasing numbers of unemployed people. Unemployment and lack of community resources contribute to increases in homelessness.

    Domestic Violence

    • When low-income women leave abusive relationships and don't have enough income to obtain affordable housing, they can become homeless. Homelessness can be a temporary or chronic situation. Domestic violence is one of the causes of homelessness of children. According to The National Center on Family Homelessness, one out of every 50 children in America experiences homelessness each year.

    Mental Illness

    • Mentally ill people can become homeless when there are not enough community resources to assist them and serve their special needs. A 2008 study by the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that the mentally ill made up 48 percent of the single, adult homeless population.

    Consequences

    • Having a stable, safe, comfortable place to live is important to a person's well-being. Homeless people have difficulty finding employment and can become chronically unemployed. It is hard to apply for jobs without a stable address or a phone. Unemployed homeless people end up without the job skills that would help them find work. Homeless people experience poor self-esteem and self-confidence. They often end up socially isolated and lonely. Homeless children have more health problems and higher rates of obesity than children with homes.

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