What Is Homeless?
Homeless refers to a person who is without a permanent or adequate place to live. The term can apply to individuals or families. People experiencing homelessness often lack access to adequate food, shelter, and medical care. Many are exposed to harsh weather and dangerous conditions. Many are unable to attend school and have difficulty finding jobs. Homelessness also has a negative impact on children and teens.
A common misconception is that homelessness only affects adults. In fact, nearly 34 percent of homeless Americans are families with children. Homelessness can be caused by a variety of factors, including lack of affordable housing, loss of employment, and health issues. In addition, it is often difficult for those experiencing homelessness to find stable employment or housing after leaving an institution like a jail or a mental hospital.
According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, there are more than 2 million people in the United States who are experiencing homelessness. This includes individuals living in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or on the streets. Others are staying in motels, hotels, camping grounds, or other “concealed” homes that do not meet the McKinney-Vento Act’s definition of homelessness.
Economic reasons are the most common cause of homelessness, followed by social reasons. In the case of the former, this may involve a reduction in income from unemployment or the inability to pay bills. In the latter, it may be a conflict with roommates or family members that leads to losing a living arrangement.
While it is hard to know exactly why people become homeless, the number of people in this situation is rising nationwide. The most recent data show that homelessness has been increasing in all 50 states, with no city seeing a decline (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 2017).
The increase in homelessness is due to several factors, including declining funding for community-based housing and services; increased cost of living; and a decline in mental health and substance abuse treatment. Despite the rise in homelessness, there are success stories that demonstrate that strong leadership and multidisciplinary collaboration can reduce this issue. In April 2023, Katherine Koh and Benjamin Land Gorman wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association that using a model based on critical time intervention, such as helping people when they are at a high risk of becoming homeless, such as upon military discharge, age out of foster care, or release from prison, has the potential to greatly reduce the number of new homeless.
The majority of research on homelessness is centered on urban areas, and as such, there is a paucity of information on homelessness in suburban and rural communities. This is a major gap in the field, as research on homelessness can provide valuable insights that can inform policy and help alleviate this national crisis. Despite the challenge, there is growing recognition that homeless policies must be multidisciplinary and focused; that homelessness must be seen as an issue in its own right; and that education on the subject must improve for future generations of leaders.