Seven Things You Didn’t Know About Homelessness

7 facts about homelessness

Lesser-known facts that may change your view on homelessness

With levels of homelessness on the rise overall, the visibility of issues affecting people who are homeless is also steadily rising.

Gradually, many people are coming to understand that homeless people are people too. Something needs to be done about the lack of affordable housing that’s pushed them into shelters, vehicles, or the streets.

But there’s still a lot that the average person doesn’t understand about homelessness. And while some things can only be fully grasped through lived experience, others can be taught.

So today I’m going to teach you seven facts about homelessness that you might not have known before. Feel free to share with friends and family and spread the knowledge around!

#7 40% of Homeless Men Are Veterans

When you consider that only 34% of the general adult male population are veterans, you can see that we’re failing our former soldiers in a big way.

These homeless veterans often have a difficult time reintegrating into society after their service. And they may also be coming home with injuries or mental illnesses.

These factors, paired with the lack of affordable housing overall, make veterans particularly vulnerable to becoming homeless.

While special programs do exist to assist homeless veterans specifically, those programs do not meet the existing need.

#6 Homelessness Is Both a Cause and a Result of Addiction

The stereotypical image of a homeless drug or alcohol addict is deeply rooted in the public consciousness. Unsurprisingly, it doesn’t capture the full picture.

Not only are the majority of homeless people not addicted to any substance, but for the ones that are, their addictions often develop only after they become homeless.

There’s no denying addictions can lead to homelessness. Those who are addicted often strain their relationships with friends and family to their breaking points, neglect other aspects of their lives to fuel their addiction, and eventually lose their housing and end up living on the streets.

But this isn’t the story for everyone. Many people become homeless through other circumstances and eventually turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to escape their reality.

Life without a home is difficult, stressful, and often feels hopeless. Turning to drugs and alcohol for relief or recreation is often a response to a desperate situation, rather than the cause of it.

#5 Homelessness Can Also Cause Mental Illness

Like addiction, mental illnesses can also develop as a result of the trauma of homelessness.

Needless to say, a life of homelessness doesn’t exactly allow a lot of time for #SelfCare. It also comes with a unique set of dangers, demands, and traumatic events that don’t affect housed people.

Of course, mental illness can also be a cause of homelessness as people fall through the cracks, can’t access treatment, or aren’t properly supported.

The stresses of homelessness can exacerbate existing mental health issues or introduce new ones, all while making it more difficult than ever to access treatment.

#4 38% of All Domestic Violence Victims Will Become Homeless

In addition to that, 80% of mothers with children experiencing homelessness had previously been the victims of domestic violence. As many as 57% of all homeless women report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness.

Imagine having to choose between an abusive partner and homelessness. That’s the reality many victims across the country face daily.

Domestic violence is not only physical. In many cases, the abuser will isolate the victim from their support networks, control their finances, and even cut them off from employment. By the time the victim is ready to leave, they may have no money, no job prospects, and no friends or family left to reach out to. This combination often results in homelessness.

#3 Homelessness Could Lower Your Life Expectancy by 36 Years

It should come as no surprise that being homeless takes a toll on one’s health and well-being. But seeing the exact figures on it is still shocking.

The average life expectancy in the United States is 78 years. For people who are homeless, the average life expectancy is between 42 and 52 years.

Due to poor living conditions and limited access to healthcare, homeless people are 3 to 4 times more likely to die when compared to people from the general population. And that’s leaving aside the higher rates of violence that affect the homeless population!

#2 Homeless People Are More Likely Victims Than Perpetrators

Especially when it comes to violent crimes, homeless people are unfortunately far more likely to be on the receiving end.

Unsheltered people are the most vulnerable to attacks that are common, widespread, and, too often, fatal. In one survey, nearly half of the homeless participants reported being the victim of an attack. Of course, that number only represents those who survived.

Housed people often commit these attacks because they have a hatred for homeless people or see them as easy targets. A report from the National Coalition for the Homeless documents several of these hate-motivated crimes.

#1 No One Is Immune to Homelessness

We talk about this fact a lot, but it can take a while to really sink in. No matter how much you have now, how skilled you are, or how supportive your network of friends and family is, nothing is permanent. All it would take is a small series of unfortunate events to put you right out on the street.

Losing a job, getting sick or injured, making a bad investment, developing an addiction, becoming a victim of domestic violence, or suffering the death of a loved one are events happening every day, forcing people like you and me out of their homes.

It may be scary to think about at first. But the sooner you accept that homelessness is often a condition of bad luck rather than bad character, the sooner you can let go of your preconceived notions about people who are homeless and start developing some real empathy.


Kayla Robbins

Kayla Robbins

  

Kayla Robbins is a freelance writer who works with big-hearted brands and businesses. When she's not working, she enjoys knitting socks, rolling d20s, and binging episodes of The Great British Bake Off.

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