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| (Image courtesy of C. G. P. Grey, CC via Wikimedia Commons) |
The figures are startling: over 550,000 Americans will experience houselessness on any given night, with somewhere between 2.5-3.5 million people experiencing houselessness over the course of the year. As of January 2020, Oregon alone accounted for around 15,000 of those nightly cases. While the population of Oregon makes up only 1.27% of the total US population, the number of houseless individuals represents 2.7% of the total American homeless population. These numbers are staggering, yet things have actually improved from a decade ago and national homelessness is said to be on a downward trend. Living situations have improved among certain populations of houseless peoples such as veterans, families, and the chronically homeless. Despite improvements in some areas, other demographics are still found to be more highly represented in homeless populations than others. While the causes of homelessness are vast and wide, insights can be gleaned by shedding light onto some of these particular groups.
Addiction and Mental Illness
There’s a clear connection between mental health, addiction and homelessness. In 2017, the National Coalition for the Homeless found that 38% of homeless people were dependent on alcohol, and 26% were dependent on other substances. In most cases, addiction is a result of homelessness, not a cause. Other reports estimate that somewhere between ¼-⅓ of houseless folks live with mental disorders. The lack of stable housing can perpetuate mental health and addiction, and without adequate treatment it is very difficult for individuals to pull themselves out of the homeless cycle.
Chronic Illness and Disability
Chronic illness and disability are often overlooked factors in homelessness, but this demographic is disproportionately represented in the data. Reports suggest that nearly a quarter of all people experiencing homelessness have a disability. Disabilities can range from physical, intellectual, or developmental and illness can overlap with substance abuse and mental health issues. It is common for people with disabilities to experience discrimination when it comes to housing, wages, healthcare, and employment. These discriminations are a major contributing factor in their disproportionate representation among houseless populations.
Veterans
It should come as no surprise that military veterans represent a disproportionate amount of houseless individuals. This particular demographic often gets highlighted and prioritized because of their service to the country. Today, veterans represent about 11% of the total homeless population. With the increase in attention and prioritization of this group, this demographic has seen the largest decrease over the past decade--their numbers being cut nearly in half.
Race
Most Americans can recognize the racial disparities in this country. As related to homelessness, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders are most affected as a group when compared to other races. Native Americans and Pacific Islanders are nearly 10 times as likely to be homeless as the national average. African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinx, and multiracial individuals are also more likely to experience homelessness than the national average. In 2019, African-Americans accounted for more than 40% of all houseless individuals. Hispanic/Latinx experience homelessness through “doubling up”, which is when two or more families or adults cohabitate in the same household.
Males
According to homeless demographic information, nearly 7 out of 10 individuals living on the street are male. At 69.6%, men are clearly more likely to experience houselessness. Those numbers become even more worrisome when you take into consideration that men are also more likely to experience unsheltered homelessness, putting them at a greater risk to the health and safety concerns associated with houselessness.
Youth
Youth homeless statistics portray a tragic image. Nearly 20% of all homeless are children, while 6% are considered unaccompanied youth (meaning they are living without a guardian). Whether it is a result of youth having to flee an unhealthy homelife or simply being a product of their environment, homeless youth account for 1 in 5 of all homeless. Due to the sensitivities and vulnerabilities of children, a lot of funding goes toward aid in this demographic. Homeless families are more likely to be approved for aid and sheltered living situations, and teen and youth programs across the country seek to help those in need.
LGBTQ
Of the unaccompanied youth mentioned in the last section, 4 out of 10 identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ counterparts. Unfortunately, without safe shelter and support this homeless demographic is at a higher risk to be prey for human sex trafficking and abuse, and they are over seven times more likely to experience acts of violence than non-LGBTQ individuals.
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Many organizations are seeking to find solutions to the multifaceted, complex, and dynamic challenges of homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to end homelessness in the United States. The NAEH believes in using research and data to find impactful solutions. They work with local and federal agencies to help effect meaningful policy change, and work with communities to implement those changes.
To learn more and find ways you can help please visit www.endhomelessness.org.
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