Who does homelessness affect?

The short answer to this question is that anyone can be homeless. There is quite the misconception that there are only certain people that are affected by homelessness, but it only takes a moment - “this may include catastrophic events; loss of employment; family break up’ family violence; onset of mental or other debilitating illnesses; substance abuse by oneself or family members; a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; and, involvement in the child welfare system” (1).

We tend to think of the homelessness issue as something that needs to be fixed in ways that are quick and easy, except it is not effective, if it was, then it would have been solved already. One thing that is important is the distinction between homelessness as a concept and actual homeless people, as everyone’s experience is different.

Common Misconceptions

Nest Community Shelter (2) discusses the stigma against the homeless, stating that “for some, the image of homelessness evokes stereotypes of laziness, incompetence, or even criminality”, which is unproductive because it leads people to think that they can just find a job and fix their lives. It is difficult “to give an employer your address when you do not have a stable home”, or even a phone number said Mary Anne Zurberick in a recent interview with the Heart of the Homeless team.

Another main misconception is the idea that one of the main reasons for homelessness is drug use, when in reality, it is the lack of affordable housing (3). Drug use is still a very large issue, but addiction is a very real illness that needs to be treated instead of criminalized. Instead, governments choose to defund and fight ‘the war on drugs’ rather than shift their focus to more affordable housing.

There is no quick fix to homelessness, and due to circumstances that are usually unpredictable, it can happen to anyone. However, by shifting the focus from stereotypes to real solutions, we can move towards meaningful change, whether it be through more affordable housing, or offering support for those struggling with addiction or mental illness.