How Do People End Up Homeless? — Weakening Support Networks
In the last two years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside and serve people who are unhoused/homeless. I want to share what I have learned from their experiences. While each person’s story is unique, I have observed several general trends.
One reason that more people are becoming homeless is because support networks are weakening. When people can’t afford a place to stay, they usually reach out to friends and family to house them. People double up with sisters, cousins, or friends for temporary housing. Some folks end up moving from place to place, staying a few days here or a week there (what’s called “couchsurfing”).
People tend to have friends and family in the same socioeconomic status as themselves. So people who are poor will likely have friends and family members who are also poor. When the cost of housing increases, friends and family end up moving away to someplace more affordable. But some folks do not have that kind of mobility. They may need to stay because they are attending school, working a job, or caring for a sick family member. They may have to meet with a probation officer, participate in a training program, or go to a methadone clinic. Some prefer to stay in a familiar place, rather than move someplace new. And truth is, some folks don’t want their friends or family members to see them out on the street. The humiliation and embarrassment can be overwhelming.