Homelessness

Homelessness is a situation in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence. This is distinguished from nomadic cultures in which that condition is considered normal. The problem of homelessness is most prevalent in the poor sections of large cities and suburbs.

Related Topics:
Nomad - Cities - Suburb

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There are numerous possible causes of homelessness. Some people claim the problem stems from inadequate social services such as public housing. Some studies suggest rent control and other housing regulations foster homelessness by reducing the supply of housing. Social changes, such as the movement to recognize the rights of those considered mentally ill, could lead to increased homelessness, as such people can no longer be involuntarily committed to mental hospitals. Such a change occurred in the early 1980s in the United States, where it is now estimated that one-third of homeless persons have some form of mental illness. According to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), there are 50,000 mentally ill homeless people in California alone because of deinstitutionalization between 1957 and 1988 and a lack of adequate local service systems. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.w5.212/DC1

Related Topics:
Social service - Public housing - Rent control - Mental hospital - Mental illness - National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

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Substance abuse may be a cause as well ? an estimated one-third of America's homeless have substance abuse problems. Debate exists about whether drug use is a cause or consequence of homelessness, but it is generally agreed that the prevalence of alcoholism, drug addiction, and mental illness in the homeless population makes employment difficult to maintain. Many of these problems could stem from sexual abuse, physical abuse, or some other trauma. A 2005 study of homeless young people published in the Journal of Adolescence found that personal drug use, familial drug use, family conflict, and in some cases family breakdown were contributing factors. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6WH0-4G3CN05-1&_coverDate=04%2F30%2F2005&_alid=277279236&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=6836&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=cdf479bac371d00c2d9c95253e17d87b

Related Topics:
Substance abuse - Drug use - Alcoholism - Drug addiction - Mental illness - Sexual abuse - Physical abuse - Journal of Adolescence

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Single men have traditionally composed the homeless demographic. In the 1980s, there was a sharp rise in the number of homeless families in certain parts of the United States (notably New York City). Most homeless families consist of an unmarried mother and children.

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Many long-term homeless people in the United States served in the military. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that more than 200,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Physical disabilities that make work difficult or impossible are also common among homeless people. Many organization such as the Borgen Projecthave criticized U.S. leaders for not doing enough.

Related Topics:
Military - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Disabilities

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Homelessness can often produce a vicious circle. With no phone number, permanent address, or place to get changed and washed, it can be very hard for the homeless to find or maintain jobs.

Related Topics:
Vicious circle - Phone number - Address

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While some homeless have paying jobs, some must seek other methods to make money. Begging or panhandling is one option, but it is illegal in many areas. Not all homeless people panhandle, and not all panhandlers are homeless. Another option is busking by performing tricks, playing music, drawing on the sidewalk, or offering some other form of entertainment. In cities where pharmaceutical companies collect paid blood plasma, frequent visits to these centers

Related Topics:
Begging - Busking - Blood plasma

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is another form of income. In Australia and Britain, many sell copies of The Big Issue, a magazine started to offer homeless (and newly homeless) people a way to make legal income. StreetWise, Street Sheet and Street Roots are similar publications in the United States. Outreach is another such publication, sold in the city of Toronto.

Related Topics:
The Big Issue - StreetWise - Street Sheet - Street Roots - Outreach

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In many cities, people who busk, panhandle, or visibly sleep outdoors are harassed by authorities. This trend is referred to as the criminalization of homelessness. It is often motivated by urban development and pushes toward gentrification.

Related Topics:
Criminalization - Gentrification

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The city of San Francisco, due to its mild climate and its social programs that have provided cash payments for homeless individuals, is often considered the homelessness capital of the United States. The city's homeless population has been estimated at 7,000-10,000 people. It is believed that New York, which is 10 times as large in population, has only 5 times as many homeless individuals. In recent months, San Francisco has attemped to scale back the scope of its homelessness problem by changing its strategy from cash payments to the so-called "care not cash" plan.

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The city of Chicago, Illinois is also noted for its number of homeless people. Many visitors to the city are often accosted by homeless people begging for change every block. Over the years, Chicago has gained a reputation as the city with the most homeless people, rivaling Los Angeles and New York, although no statistical data has backed this up. The reputation stems primarily from the number of beggars found on the streets rather than any sort of census data.

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Homeless shelters operated by government, churches, or charities work to provide temporary housing to the homeless. While some shelters also provide food, others must turn to food banks and soup kitchens for nutrition. Other services provided by some shelters include health clinics, clothing and personal items, employment assistance, counseling and other social services. However, there are a number of complaints about the safety and quality of homeless shelters. Subsidized housing is a more expensive solution that some believe might end the cycle of homelessness.

Related Topics:
Homeless shelter - Food bank - Soup kitchen - Health clinic - Employment assistance - Counseling - Social services - Subsidized housing

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