Why are there Homeless?

Many people have an aversion to helping the homeless because they feel those people may deserve the life they are in now. It is argued that the root cause of homelessness is hard to grasp, and no situation is the same. Many factors contribute to homelessness, and not all of them are within the victim's immediate control. Both families and individuals suffer from homelessness, and the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2008 provided the top reasons for homelessness in a press release.

The top three causes of homelessness in families are:

1. A Lack of Affordable Housing
2. Poverty
3. Unemployment.

The top three causes of homelessness in individuals are:

1. Substance Abuse
2. A Lack of Affordable Housing
3. Mental Illness

Many of these problems are not a result of any action taken by the homeless individual, and the National Coalition for the Homeless found in a survey that 21.4% of the homeless population said they chose homelessness. They also found that relationship problems, childcare complications, and an inability to balance rent, food, and other basic needs were issues that caused and maintained a homeless community. Chronic homelessness occurs in those individuals with mental illness or drug habits, and a full explanation can be found here.

The government and other organizations are working hard to address these problems, but there is not one single solution. You, however, can help on a local scale. Find the organizations in your area that are already working on this huge problem.