It’s Time to Challenge the Rhetoric That Ties Addiction and Poverty to Worthiness and Advocate for Shelter Without Conditions
Something came up recently that I want to use as a writing prompt. Let me be clear: I believe every person deserves a home or safe dwelling, without exception. Every living being deserves shelter. Having a roof over your head shouldn’t depend on whether someone deems you “good” or “bad,” moral or immoral, or on your economic status, ethnicity, or any other characteristic.
I’m saying this because influential figures like Elon Musk are promoting the harmful idea that those without housing, or those struggling with it, are in this situation solely due to substance abuse and, therefore, do not deserve help or consideration. They portray substance abuse as a lifestyle choice, implying that this should disqualify people from being worthy of a home.
I often emphasize that I’ve never used substances like drugs or alcohol, but this should never be interpreted as a claim of superiority over those who are struggling with addiction. I mention this only as a counter to the irresponsible narrative Musk, and others are pushing—that all homeless or housing-challenged people are addicts who deserve their suffering. The reality is far more complex, and I feel obligated to speak for those of us in this predicament for other reasons, particularly disabled individuals like myself who cannot earn a living wage, and senior citizens.
Breaking the Stereotypes: Most Homeless Individuals Are Not Addicts
Invisible People published an article a few years ago showing that 74% of homeless individuals are not substance abusers. This is crucial information because public perception matters—people judge those of us who are in poverty, especially those who are homeless.
I’m not denying that some homeless individuals do struggle with drugs or alcohol. Many weren’t using substances before becoming homeless but turned to them as a way to cope with the trauma of living on the streets. I didn’t choose that path because even as an abused child, I never saw addiction as a way to make things better. That doesn’t mean I can’t intellectually understand why someone might make that choice. I feel compassion and deep sadness for those who suffer from addiction. But I must emphasize that even those who are addicted to substances do not deserve to be homeless or dehumanized.
I left home at 18, an old soul yet very innocent and lacking life experience. Other autistic people are sometimes like this too. I escaped an abusive, mentally ill adoptive parent and ended up staying with a friend’s family. Her husband was a heroin addict, often trying to be a good husband and father until he couldn’t. He’d steal from his family and disappear for weeks, living in abandoned buildings. I’d never known anyone addicted to substances and didn’t understand it, but I witnessed its tragic consequences firsthand.
The Homelessness Crisis Is Not a Result of ‘Bad Lifestyle Choices’
Musk and others dismiss not only those struggling with addiction but also people displaced by fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes. By framing most homeless people as people with an addiction, they dismiss those who became homeless through no fault of their own—people who once lived in stable homes and now find themselves in temporary shelters, vehicles, or trailers years after the disaster. The public forgets these disasters, and people like Musk brand all homeless individuals as deserving of their suffering due to “bad lifestyle choices.”
In the end, it shouldn’t matter how someone ended up homeless. Everyone deserves adequate shelter. For humans, that means a safe, comfortable home (not luxury), and for animals, safety and comfort as well. No living being should be left outside, exposed to the elements without protection.
When you hear people spreading lies, speaking up and advocating is crucial. In today’s world, distinguishing truth from falsehood is harder than ever. Allowing false narratives (like those targeting homeless individuals) to spread only fuels indifference or disgust, ensuring homelessness remains unresolved. This could eventually lead to even more extreme measures, like internment camps for people without housing or advocating euthanasia as an “acceptable” alternative.
