10 Homelessness Myths
Homeless people are lazy. In fact, over 45% of people who are homeless have a job(s) while they are homeless. Joblessness also exists as many times wages do not translate into livable earnings.
Homeless people are alcoholics/drug addicts. In fact, about 35-45% of people who are homeless do have a substance abuse problem; however the relationship between homelessness and alcohol and drug addiction is quite controversial. While addiction and drug use is prevalent, many homeless individuals use substances in order to self-medicate, exposing a fundamental problem in our nation’s lack of healthcare provision for the poor and homeless.
Homeless people are crazy. In fact, 20-25% of the single adult homeless population suffers from some form of severe and persistent mental illness, the most common of which is depression. Consequently, many people develop mental illnesses while on the street.
Homeless people are uneducated. In fact, many people who are homeless have high school diplomas or their GED, college degrees and even Masters Degrees.
Homeless people want to be homeless. In fact, nobody in their right mind wants to become homeless. There are some people who are “chronically homeless” who have lost faith in society; they don’t think that there is another way out because of society’s treatment towards the homeless.
Homeless people are dirty/smell. In fact, you would be unable to tell that many homeless people are as such. Many people living in shelters you would never know were homeless because they have a place to shower.
It is your fault if you become homeless. In fact, people become homeless for a wide variety of circumstances such as: family problems, abuse, mental illness, lost job, can’t afford to pay rent (lack of affordable housing and lack of a living wage), no health insurance, substance abuse (alcohol or drugs), natural disaster (hurricane, earthquake, fire etc), etc.
Homelessness can’t happen to you. In fact, it can happen to anybody at any time. 1 out of 3 people working today are one or two missed paychecks away from being homeless, especially the 37 million people currently living in poverty.
Homelessness will never end. In fact, homelessness can end and will end once it is no longer acceptable in our society for another human being to be sleeping outside, in their car, in an abandoned building, or in a shelter.
Homelessness is easy to get out of. In fact, it is not. It takes a lot of work for a person to move from homelessness to homefullness and obtain access to gainful employment based on a living wage, housing, healthcare, and networks of support are imperative.
http://www.suitcaseclinic.org/homelessness-defined/