The Faces of Homelessness
Families
Homeless families are very similar to other poor families. They tend to be headed by a single women in her teens with younger children. Adults in homeless families tend to have limited education and have high rates of domestic violence and mental illness. Children in families who experience homelessness tend to develop emotional and behavioral disorders and it is often very difficult for them to regularly attend school. The majority of homeless families do not remain homeless for long and are usually able to attain stable housing with little public assistance. Rapid-Rehousing and housing subsidies are some of the best methods to alleviate family homelessness.
- Housing Vouchers are Critical for Ending Family Homelessness
- Ending Homelessness for Families
- Domestic Violence and Homelessness
Unaccompanied Youth
Youth become homeless often as a result of family conflict (such as abuse or arguments over sexual identity or orientation) or exiting the foster care system or juvenile justice system. Research shows higher rates of mental health disorders, chronic physical health conditions, and substance abuse among homeless youth. Unaccompanied youth are difficult to account for and their needs are hard to meet. The solutions for other homeless populations are not applicable to minors, who cannot live or rent on their own. The costs of youth homelessness are many as they compound over a lifetime.
Chronically Homeless
According to federal policy a chronically homeless person is an unaccompanied single adult, disabled, and who has either been homeless continuously for one year or more, or has experienced four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Chronically homeless individuals make up about one-fifth of the homeless population in the U.S. Many chronically homeless individuals suffer from severe mental illness, like schizophrenia, drug addiction, or other severe disabilities, and end up utilizing emergency homeless shelters. Emergency health care is a major cost to society for this homeless population. Permanent supportive housing is the proven solution to chronic homelessness.
Read "Million Dollar Murray" by Malcolm Gladwell from The New Yorker. It is a real-life depiction of a chronically homeless individual from Reno, Nevada and the high cost of managing the symptoms of homelessness.
Veterans
Veterans make up 20-25% of the homeless population. While the majority of homeless veterans are males, the numbers of female veterans and those with dependent children is increasing in the U.S. Veterans often become homeless due to a physical or mental war-related disability. Readjusting to life back in the U.S. is very difficult for some veterans. Rapid Re-housing and prevention strategies work to house many veterans. For those with severe difficulties like traumatic brain injury, sexual trauma, or post traumatic stress disorder, permanent supportive housing may be necessary.
Read "Rearranging the Deck Chairs or Allocating the Lifeboats?" by Dennis P. Culhane and Stephen Metraux. The writers argue that it would be more efficient and humane to reallocate resources currently devoted to shelters and instead, develop community-based programs that focus on helping those with housing emergencies to remain housed or to quickly return to housing.
