Gomes, Misael

John McGowan
Academic Writing
5 August 2014

Causes of homelessness in the United States

Homelessness is a concerning problem with global proportions. A report to the United
Nations stated, There were 1.6 billion inadequately housed people across the world and an
estimated 100 million who were completely homeless (2005, para. 1) Despite some people's
belief that homelessness is just an issue for developing countries, it is in fact a huge problem for
developed countries as well. According to recent research of The U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development [HUD], in the United States, one of the most powerful country in the
world, In January 2013, 610,042 people were homeless on a given night. Most 65 percent were
living in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs and 35 percent were living in
unsheltered locations (Henry, Cortes, & Morris, 2013, p. 1). Although homelessness is a mix of
diverse and complex factors, there are two critical causes for that, which are intense poverty and
health issues.
The first major reason for homelessness among the poor is lack of affordable housing.
The human right to a decent housing should be a right to everyone living in a safe, healthy and
friendly place. In fact, according to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(1948), Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being of
himself and of his family, includinghousing. However, the real situation is extremely
different of the theory. Indeed, there are many people and families living in unsafe and unhealthy

conditions because they cannot afford the rising housing prices. Due to the increasing price of
housing in the United States, the demand for rental properties increased. Unfortunately, instead
of rental creating a solution for the problem of housing, it made it worst due to the rising price of
these units; consequently, poor people also cannot afford for leasing a place. To clarify, one
parameter used to relate wage with rental home is "the housing wage", which the National Low
Income Housing Coalition [NLIHC] defines as the wage one must earn in order to afford a
modest rental home in communities across the country (2014, para. 1). According to a report
from NLIHC, In the United States, the 2014 two-bedroom Housing Wage is $18.92. This
national average is more than two-and-a-half times the federal minimum wage, and 52% higher
than it was in 2000. In no state can a full-time minimum wage worker afford a one-bedroom or a
two-bedroom rental unit at Fair Market Rent (2014, p.4). Hence, many families live on the
streets under deplorable situations.
The second critical reason for homelessness among poor people is the shortage of
employment opportunities. Many people agree that the opportunity for a stable and decent work
is certainly one of the most assured ways to take people out of the homelessness. Anthony Love,
Deputy Director of United States Interagency Council on Homelessness states, The best defense
against homelessness is a job that pays enough to afford a place to live. Unemployment, underemployment, and low wage employment are frequent causes of homelessness (Love, 2013,
para. 1). Nevertheless, since many poor people have no chance to attend good schools, their low
educational attainment levels become a considerable barrier to find a good job. Thus, the jobs
that poor people can find are dangerous, stressful and with low wages.
Although intense poverty is a major cause of homelessness, there are also specific health
problems which place people in this state of being. In fact, many homeless people suffer from

some kind of health problems, and in countless cases this is the origin of the homelessness
among them.
One of the most common health problems that can lead people to homelessness is mental
illness. According to a report of U.S. Conference of Mayors, Approximately 16% of the single
adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness
(Hunger and Homelessness Survey, 2005). This group with psychiatric disorders is most likely to
become homeless people because, in high levels of mental disorders, they can distrust or do not
recognize their own relatives. Thus, many of them run away from home. In reality, Mental
illnesses may prevent people from forming and maintaining stable relationships or cause people
to misinterpret others guidance and react irrationally. This often results in pushing away
caregivers, family, and friends who may be the force keeping that person from becoming
homeless (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009, p. 1). Another common health problem
that can lead people to homelessness is substance abuse. A report of National Coalition for the
Homeless states that, Substance abuse is often a cause of homelessness. Addictive disorders
disrupt relationships with family and friends and often cause people to lose their jobs. For people
who are already struggling to pay their bills, the onset or exacerbation of an addiction may cause
them to lose their housing (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009, p. 1). Clearly, substance
abuse is a serious problem because normally people under influence of drugs spend all their
money to buy narcotics. Consequently, they overlook important financial obligations. Also, these
people turn away from their families.
In short, homelessness is a considerable problem with many implications in the United
States. Poverty and health issues are the most significant causes for that. Solutions for
homelessness are not that simple. Also, effective solutions require well thought out projects by

governments and popular engagement to support and struggle together with homeless people. in
this way, it is possible to overcome homelessness.

Works Cited
Press Briefing. (2005). Retrieved July 18, 2014, from United Nation:
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2005/kotharibrf050511.doc.htm
(Henry, M., Cortes, A., & Morris, S. (2013). The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report
(AHAR) to Congress. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Love, A. (2013). Jobs and Homelessness: A Message from USICH Deputy Director Anthony
Love. Retrieved July 20, 2014, from United States Interagency Council on Homelessness:
http://usich.gov/plan_objective/pathways_to_employment/jobs_and_homelessness_a_me
ssage_from_usich_deputy_director_anthony_love/
National Coalition for the Homeless. (2009). Mental Illness and Homelessness. Washington,
D.C.: Retrieved August 4, 2014, from National Coalition for the Homeless:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Mental_Illness.pdf
National Coalition for the Homeless. (2009). Substance abuse and homelessness. Washington,
D.C: Retrieved August 4, 2014, from National Coalition for the Homeless:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/addiction.pdf
National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2014). Out of Reach. Washington, D.C: Retrieved
July 29, 2014, National Low Income Housing Coalition:
http://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/2014OOR.pdf
National Low Income Housing Coalition. (2014). Out of Reach. Retrieved July 29, 2014, from
National Low Income Housing Coalition: http://nlihc.org/oor/
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948, Article 25). Retrieved July18, 2014 from United
Nation: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml#a25
U.S. Conference of Mayors. (2005). Hunger and Homelessness Survey. Long Beach, CA.:
Retrieved July 18, 2014, from U.S. Conference of Mayors:
http://www.usmayors.org/hungersurvey/2005/HH2005FINAL.pdf