What is Homeless?

Homeless is the state of being without a place to live, usually as a result of severe economic hardship. This situation is experienced by people of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances. It is a growing problem across the world, with some nations experiencing it more than others. The causes of homelessness are varied and complex, including a lack of affordable housing, discrimination, economic and social instability, high unemployment, and natural disasters. The condition is particularly prevalent among vulnerable groups such as indigenous peoples, women, children, youth, and people living with mental illness. Homeless people are often subjected to stigma and discrimination, resulting in a lack of access to services, and are at increased risk of violence and victimization.

Despite the common image of homeless people as destitute vagrants, the vast majority are not. Many experience homelessness only temporarily due to a life-changing event such as a job loss, eviction, or family crisis. However, for some individuals the problems are long-term. People who are chronically homeless face a series of barriers to finding housing, such as limited incomes, lack of education and employment skills, addiction, mental illness, and poor physical and mental health. This can be compounded by the inability to access housing that is affordable and suitable to their needs, and by a lack of supportive networks.

The term homelessness is used most commonly in the United States, but it is also prevalent in other countries around the world, such as Russia and South Korea. In these countries, homelessness is more of a housing issue than a poverty or income issue, because the poor have few rights to land, and are often denied access to public services such as healthcare and education. In these countries, it is also difficult to find employment, and so those who become homeless may have no means of support or no place to go.

In the United States, a significant number of those who are homeless are veterans and those with chronic conditions such as mental illness or physical disabilities. Some of these are likely to have experienced homelessness as a result of a lack of adequate discharge planning from hospital or inpatient mental health care, or from corrections systems, for example. It is also more likely for older adults to be severely housing cost burdened, with 34 percent of those age 75 and over paying 50 percent or more of their income on rent.

Individuals experiencing homelessness tend to have a higher risk of developing or suffering from a range of other medical and psychiatric conditions, including diabetes and hypertension, depression and substance use disorders, Hepatitis C, and dental issues. These problems are made worse by a lack of stable housing, which makes it harder to follow medical regimens and can lead to a deterioration in health over time. Homeless individuals die at significantly higher rates than those who have secure homes, with a life expectancy 30 years below the national average.