Homelessness is a term that describes the condition of people who have no permanent place to live. About 150 million people in the world are homeless. Most of these people live in poor or developing countries, but homelessness is a problem in developed countries as well.
There is no single generally accepted definition of homelessness. For example, many experts consider people who live in inadequate permanent housing as being homeless. Such dwellings include those that do not provide clean water, sanitation, personal safety, or protection from the weather. Others sometimes considered as being homeless are people who lack stable or secure housing arrangements and are forced to make frequent moves between family, friends, or temporary shelters.
Scope.
The size and characteristics of the homeless population worldwide are difficult to measure. Some countries do not count their homeless population, and many others can only generate rough approximations. About 1 1/2 billion individuals worldwide live in inadequate housing. In addition, an increasing percentage of those who are homeless or who lack adequate housing live in urban areas. About 4 million Americans experience homelessness in a given year.
Although some people think of the homeless as predominantly single adult men, a large percentage of the homeless population in the United States, for example, is made up of children and families. Most people who rely on shelters do so for only a short period, but there is a small percentage of the homeless population that is persistently homeless.
Causes and conditions.
A number of circumstances or conditions can lead to homelessness. Some conditions are temporary or easily treated, resulting in shorter periods of homelessness. Other conditions are harder to address and lead to more persistent homelessness. People may experience homelessness after war, political unrest, or fires or other natural disasters.
Poverty and joblessness are major causes of homelessness in many countries today. People who lose their jobs or who are unable to work often do not have adequate income to provide for basic needs. Other people may work but earn too little to secure permanent housing. Lack of affordable housing in a community also contributes to levels of homelessness. Some individuals leave difficult or abusive personal relationships and are unable to support themselves. A significant number of homeless people struggle with substance abuse or mental health problems, which make it difficult to find and retain employment. Some homeless people are former psychiatric patients who have been released into the community without adequate support.
Daily life is difficult for the homeless, especially for those who are homeless for a long time. Homelessness often leads to poor health because it is difficult for some homeless individuals to obtain or afford nutritious food or adequate medical care. Poor health conditions increase susceptibility to chronic illnesses, such as tuberculosis and AIDS. Homeless people often struggle to cope with severe weather, lack of sleep, and threats to their personal safety. Proper help for these problems, and especially a safe place in which to recover, can be difficult to find. Even healthy people who are homeless for a long period may become depressed and confused as a result of daily hardship.
Addressing homelessness.
Different societies and communities have different approaches to addressing homelessness. Many developed countries provide or finance emergency shelters, temporary housing, or permanent housing for homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless. Increasing the amount of affordable housing units is a common strategy for reducing homelessness in many developed and developing nations. Some governments and private charities provide emergency food assistance, food pantries, and meal programs for homeless populations.
In many European countries, homeless individuals with physical health, mental health, or substance abuse problems are housed in residential care facilities. Programs that help the homeless commonly target women, children, and young people. Some communities in the United States and other industrialized nations have developed more comprehensive strategies for addressing long-term homelessness. In addition to providing housing, these strategies offer services, treatment, and financial assistance to help the chronically homeless become more self-sufficient.
Despite these efforts, many experts agree that resources committed to providing housing or shelters for the homeless are inadequate to meet demand for assistance. Many homeless individuals live in communities where there is little or no assistance and are left to find shelter on their own. Some may build a temporary shelter or live illegally in an abandoned building; others may sleep in public buildings, such as airports or train stations; still others may spend the night outdoors under bridges, in parks, or on the street. Groups dedicated to helping the homeless are working to bring greater attention to the issue of homelessness and to pull together more resources to reduce this problem.
