Why do people become homeless?
Why Are People Homeless? 1 POVERTY. Homelessness and poverty are inextricably linked. 2 HOUSING. A lack of affordable housing and the limited scale of housing assistance programs have contributed to the current housing crisis and to homelessness. 3 OTHER FACTORS. 4 CONCLUSION. 5 REFERENCES.
Are there more homeless people than we think?
There are many indications that the actual number of homeless people is much higher. The National Coalition for the Homeless points out that the PIT count largely misses recently homeless individuals staying in supportive housing, which is paid for with federal and local homelessness funds.
Is homelessness caused by drug and alcohol abuse?
While rates of alcohol and drug abuse are disproportionately high among the homeless population, the increase in homelessness over the past two decades cannot be explained by addiction alone. Many people who are addicted to alcohol and drugs never become homeless, but people who are poor and addicted are clearly at increased risk of homelessness.
How does the lack of affordable housing affect homelessness?
The lack of affordable housing has lead to high rent burdens (rents which absorb a high proportion of income), overcrowding, and substandard housing. These phenomena, in turn, have not only forced many people to become homeless; they have put a large and growing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.
How long do homeless people stay in shelters?
Excessive waiting lists for public housing mean that people must remain in shelters or inadequate housing arrangements longer. In a survey of 24 cities, people remain homeless an average of seven months, and 87\% of cities reported that the length of time people are homeless has increased in recent years (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2005).