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Possible Causes of Homelessness

Homelessness is a growing problem in the United States as of 2010. The National Coalition for the Homeless explains that there is no way to calculate how many people lose their homes each year, but the site also indicates that many homeless shelters are filled to capacity and have to turn people away. Homelessness can result from many different factors.

  1. Foreclosure and Job Loss

    • The National Coalition for the Homeless explains that there is a dramatic correlation between foreclosure and homelessness. Six million jobs were lost between 2007 and 2010. People who are unable to pay their mortgages because of job loss or who must choose between paying for housing and purchasing basic necessities are at high risk of defaulting on their mortgages. These families often lose their homes to foreclosure.

      The Mortgage Credit Problems website warns that it can be difficult to find a place to rent after going through a foreclosure, even for renters who have enough money to put a sizable deposit on a new place to live. Former homeowners who are not able to rent an apartment or other suitable housing stay with friends or family, sometimes in overcrowded conditions. Individuals without this support often end up living in motels, in homeless shelters or in the streets.

    Rising Housing Costs

    • The lack of affordable housing in combination with the lack of government assistance has resulted in additional numbers of homeless people. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, the definition of affordable is when the renter or homeowner spends no more than 30 percent of his yearly income on housing. However, many families have to pay 50 percent or more on housing. This can put a considerable strain on the budget.

      The National Coalition for the Homeless explains that available housing options diminished as rent prices went up. The average rent rose 41 percent between 2000 and 2009, but federal support for low-income housing steadily dwindled between 1980 and 2010. The website indicates that many people are placed on long waiting lists for housing assistance. In 2007, families with children stayed in homeless shelters for an average of 5.7 months as they waited for public housing to become available.

    Mental Illness or Substance Abuse

    • The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that 38 percent of homeless people have alcohol abuse problems, 26 percent have drug abuse issues, and 39 percent are mentally ill, while 50 percent have co-occurring mental illness and substance-abuse issues. The website also indicates that this population stays homeless for longer periods of time because many of them are estranged from friends and family members that could provide support.

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