Homelessness

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Definition

The term "homelessness" includes the people whose primary nighttime residence is in an institution that provides a residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping conditions for human beings.[6][7]


Other names for homelessness

The term used to describe homeless people in academic articles and government reports is "homeless people". Popular slang terms, some of which are considered derogatory, include: vagrant, tramp, hobo (U.S.), transient, bum (U.S.), bagman/bagwoman, urban outdoorsmen [8], or the wandering poor. The term '(of) No Fixed Abode' (NFA) is used in legal circumstances. Sometimes the term “houseless” is used to reflect a more accurate condition in some cases.[9][10] In different ********s, the term for homelessness reveals the cultural and societal perception and classification of a homeless person:[11]


Main causes of homelessness

Tents for homeless people on the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris, December 2006-January 2007, put there by the Enfants de Don Quichotte NGO (videos available on site).

Homeless street dwellers in Mumbai, India.

The major reasons and lack of causes for homelessness as documented by many reports and studies include:[12][13][14]
Lack of affordable housing
Unavailability of employment opportunities, which becomes a vicious circle due to the initial problem of being homeless
Poverty, caused by many factors including unemployment and underemployment
Lack of affordable healthcare
Substance abuse and unavailability or lack of needed services
Mental illness and unavailability or lack of needed services
Domestic violence
Prison release and re-entry into society
Natural disaster
Forced eviction - In many countries, people lose their homes by government order to make way for newer upscale high rise buildings, roadways, and other governmental needs.[15] The compensation may be minimal, in which case the former occupants cannot find appropriate new housing and become homeless.
Mortgage foreclosures on homes in the United States in due to the crisis of a large number of shaky and sub-prime mortgages granted by banks and other lenders.[16]

A substantial percentage of the U.S. homeless population are individuals who are chronically unemployed or have difficulty managing their lives effectively due to prolonged and severe drug and/or alcohol abuse.[17] Substance abuse can cause homelessness from behavioral patterns associated with addiction that alienate an addicted individual's family and friends who could otherwise provide support during difficult economic times.

Increased wealth disparity and income inequality causes distortions in the housing market that push rent burdens higher, making housing unaffordable.[18]


Pre-disposing factors to homelessness

Skid Row in Los Angeles, CA

A homeless person in Paris.

There are both general factors which predispose to homelessness and specific factors relating to individuals who are at risk of homelessness.

Factors placing an individual at high-risk of homelessness include:
High Cost of living: In many countries those who are homeless but employed are not considered vagrants. With rising cost of living (especially recent increases in food and fuel prices world-wide)[19], some people become homeless in order to meet other expenses. This is especially true when wages are low and housing prices[20] in the area are high. For example California, which has a high cost of living, also has a high homelessness rate.[21] However this is not due to absolute poverty, but rather that the average wages are high enough to drive prices up to match, which makes housing unaffordable to people on low wages or dependent on welfare.[22]
Poverty
Drug abuse: It is common for homeless people to have a substance abuse problem. Debate exists about whether drug use is a cause or consequence of homelessness. However, regardless when it arises, an untreated addiction makes moving beyond homelessness extremely difficult.[17] [23]
Serious Mental Illness and Disability: It has been estimated that approximately one-third of all adult homeless persons in the US have some form of mental illness and/or disability. Historically these individuals were institutionalized in state mental hospitals. However, according to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), there were 50,000 mentally ill homeless people in California alone because of deinstitutionalization between 1957 and 1988 and a lack of adequate local service systems.[24]. Various assertive outreach approaches, including a mental health treatment approach known as Assertive Community Treatment and the Path Program, have shown promise in the prevention of homelessness among people with serious mental illness.[25][26][27]
Foster Care: This population experienced rates of homelessness nearly 8 times higher than the non-foster care population.
Domestic abuse including sexual, physical and mental abuse: Victims who flee from abuse often find themselves without a home. Abused children also have a higher chance of succumbing to a drug addiction, which contributes to difficulties in establishing a residence.[28] In 1990 a study found that half of homeless women and children were fleeing abuse.[29]
Imprisonment: Often the formerly incarcerated are socially isolated from friends and family and have few resources. Employment is often difficult and even sometimes impossible for those with a criminal record. Untreated substance abuse and mental illness also may put them at high risk for homelessness once discharged.[30]
War: Civilians during war or any armed conflict are also are at a high risk of homelessness, because of possible military attacks on their property many flee as refugees. People who flee their homes in war may be left homeless due to structural damage to their home, seizure by opponents or lack of safety and security. Unexploded ordnance and land mines also make many areas unlivable. Then even after the end of conflict and return of security, rebuilding of homes is costly, and most often the post-war government is unable to help its citizens without substantial foreign aid. [31]


Problems faced by homeless people

Homeless people face many problems beyond the lack of a safe and suitable home. They are often faced with many social disadvantages and reduced access to private and public services such as:
Reduced access to health care
Limited access to education
Increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse
Discrimination
Not being seen as suitable for employment


Violent crimes against the homeless

There have been many violent crimes committed against the homeless. [32] A recent study in 2007 found that this number is increasing.[33][34]


Assistance and resources available to the homeless

Most countries provide a variety of services to assist homeless people. They often provide food, ****ter and clothing and may be organised and run by community organisations (often with the help or volunteers) or by government departments. These programs may be supported by government, charities, churches and individual donors.


Income sources

Many non-profit organizations such as Goodwill Industries maintain a mission to "provide skill development and work opportunities to people with barriers to employment", though most of these organizations are not primarily geared toward homeless individuals. Many cities also have street newspapers or magazines: publications designed to provide employment opportunity to homeless people or others in need by street sale.

While some homeless have paying jobs, some must seek other methods to make money. Begging or panhandling is one option, but is becoming increasingly illegal in many cities. Despite the stereotype, not all homeless people panhandle, and not all panhandlers are homeless. Another option is busking: performing tricks, playing music, drawing on the sidewalk, or offering some other form of entertainment in exchange for donations. In cities where plasmapheresis centers still exist, homeless people may generate income through frequent visits to these centers.

Homeless people have been known to commit crimes just to be sent to jail or prison for food and ****ter. In police slang, this is called "three hots and a cot" referring to the three hot daily meals and a cot to sleep on given to prisoners. Similarly a homeless person may approach a hospital's emergency department and fake physical or mental illness in order to receive food and ****ter