California Homeless Count – The Root Cause of Homelessness

Homeless people are those without a safe, affordable place to live. People experience homelessness for a wide variety of reasons, including job loss, lack of income from public assistance programs, and serious mental illness or drug abuse. It is a complex issue with many causes and impacts, but one thing is clear: homelessness is preventable.

In a “point-in-time” count, local governments estimate the number of people who are homeless on any given night by counting them in shelters, motels, tent cities, parks, or other places not meant for human habitation. Using a single night’s data, governments can see trends in the population of homeless individuals and make decisions about how to best help them.

A large body of academic research has found that housing costs are the main driver of homelessness. When a household is severely rent burdened (paying more than half their income in rent) it is very easy for a change to their financial situation to push them into homelessness. A lost job, an unexpected health care bill or utility bill, or even a small increase in their rent can push someone into homelessness.

Other factors, such as a history of domestic violence or a family history of alcoholism can also lead to homelessness. However, these are rarely the primary cause of homelessness, and the evidence shows that providing services like housing and treatment can dramatically reduce their risk.

The root cause of homelessness in California is a lack of affordable homes. This is exacerbated by laws that prohibit the construction of new housing, and policies that make it harder for developers to build affordable homes. These policies and practices are often supported by local politicians who seek to protect the interests of property owners. They have stifled the ability of progressive politicians to address homelessness, and led voters to turn to reactionary candidates in the face of rising homelessness.

The population of people experiencing homelessness in California is disproportionately affected by poverty, race, and marginalization. It includes a significant number of people who identify as women, children, LGBTQ+, foster youth, justice-system involved, and people with disabilities. These individuals are most likely to be living in substandard housing, which is characterized by a lack of sanitation, heat, safety, and security.

It is time for a national conversation on how to reduce the number of homeless people. We must acknowledge that housing is a right and invest in creating more affordable homes for all. To end homelessness, we must recognize that the problem is a result of both a shortage of affordable housing and government policies that block the construction of new housing. A richer definition of homelessness would allow us to better understand the problem and to make smart policy choices. For example, reducing it to simply not having a roof over one’s head overlooks the loss of community and social connection that accompanies homelessness. It’s time to move beyond this narrow view of the problem and refocus our efforts on a solution.