Cause Of Homelessness Essay

A common misconception is that homelessness happens due to a few simple causes. Some of these causes include the inability to find a job or laziness. In reality, many people who are a victim of homelessness are unable to find a job due to external problems, such as mental illness, drug/substance use, and abuse. These issues lead to the inability to get help, keeping the affected individuals homeless. To illustrate, the risk of homelessness for people with schizophrenia and similar illnesses is ten times greater than those who do not. In a study conducted by Healthy Minds Canada, 78 homeless men, women, and children were interviewed. 91% were found to have psychiatric disorders. Of the 91%, 29% were chronic alcoholics, 21% had a personality
disorder, and 40% had psychosis, defined as “a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.” This category consists of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar illness, or drug-induced psychosis. Of the 91%, only approximately one-third had been hospitalized for psychiatric issues.
Mental disorders and addictions strongly impact one’s ability to get a job, and more importantly, impact their decision-making skills. Regardless of shelters and institutions created to help those who cannot support themselves, people who need this support are unable to make the decision to find help. The difficulties in providing help to the homeless with mental disorders, also apply to those that have drug or substance abuse problems. It can be difficult for these people to find help, as their decision-making abilities may be affected, and many will not want to go to rehabilitation as they use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate from the stress and problems that come with homelessness. Homeless alcohol and drug abusers are a particularly vulnerable group because many shelters will not admit those who are drunk or high unless they accept help. The final and most direct reason for homelessness is abuse. 70% of homeless youth have experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, and victims of domestic abuse have nowhere to turn to once they leave their abuser. While woman shelters exist, they are often full and must turn down homeless woman looking for
shelter. Furthermore, men who have been abused rarely have anywhere to go that is targeted towards male victims. Homeless people who are victims of abuse will often develop mental disorders or turn to drugs, leading to the issues getting help mentioned above. In brief, the central sources of homelessness such as mental illness, drug/substance use, and domestic violence frequently renders victims of homelessness unable to find and accept help. For this reason, it is difficult to eliminate the problem and provide the homeless population the help they need.