What Is Homeless?

Homeless is a term that describes a situation where an individual or family lacks a permanent place to live. They may be living in shelters, motels, camping grounds, cars or other places not meant for human habitation. Those experiencing homelessness are also without steady employment or sources of income, and they typically have a history of substance abuse, mental illness or poor health.

A large number of people experience homelessness, including single adults and families with children. While there are some people who are homeless because of severe physical or psychological problems, the majority of homeless individuals and families are poor, and their main problem is a lack of affordable housing. Having limited resources, they cannot afford the rental or mortgage payments for the homes that are available to them in their community.

Many communities and organizations have programs to help those experiencing homelessness. For example, some people can find housing assistance in the form of rental vouchers or relocation grants. Others can access emergency services for food, clothing and other basic needs. Many people also volunteer to help those experiencing homelessness, either by providing food or shelter or by providing other services such as job training, counseling or education.

Homelessness has historically impacted different groups in our society in distinct ways. Efforts to address this issue must take into account America’s rich history of oppression, a legacy that is still reflected in today’s socioeconomic disparities.

In the past, homelessness was mostly seen in urban areas with high concentrations of poverty and a strong presence of public institutions such as schools, churches, hospitals and social welfare services. In the 1870s, rapid industrialization and economic expansion prompted many to move into cities in search of work. These people, known as tramps, lived in tenements and slums that were often described by Jacob Riis, the influential 19th-century social reformer and muckraker.

During the 1970s and 1980s, homelessness increased significantly due to recession-related cuts in subsidized housing, social security benefits and unemployment compensation. These changes disproportionately affected people with disabilities, who lived in rooming houses and single-room occupancy hotels (SROs), commonly referred to as Skid Row.

People can become homeless for many reasons, including a loss of a job, an eviction or a medical crisis. Some people are homeless for long periods of time because they lack the means to get back on their feet after a crisis or a setback, and others lose their housing when it becomes unaffordable.

People of all ages and races can become homeless. Single adults are the largest group, but many homeless people are families with children. The causes of homelessness vary across groups and are interrelated, but there is a clear link between poverty and homelessness. Families with children are twice as likely to be homeless as those who are not, and they are often the fastest-growing segment of the population of those experiencing homelessness. This is partly because of the soaring cost of living in most American cities.