Homelessness, Causes and Cures

In today’s society the issue of homelessness is often overlooked and misunderstood. To many individuals, homeless people are viewed as products of their own poor life choices. When in reality many homeless individuals are in these situations due to events that are entirely out of their control. While it is true that single events can cause one to become homeless, oftentimes it is caused by a pathway that inevitably leads to the loss of shelter and a life on the streets. According to the Journal of Sociology in London, England, there have been identified at least five pathways that lead to homelessness. 

The five pathways include: 

1. housing crises, which entails financial hardships such as the loss of a job or collapse of a business 

2. family breakdown which in many cases is a result of domestic violence 

3. substance abuse which can be caused by other factors such as abuse or traumatic experiences 

4. mental illness 

5. youth to adult transitions which involve individuals in state care or those that have been victims to traumatic experiences. 

As we can see there are many factors that lead to homelessness, but we must understand that these situations are not hopeless and things can be done to prevent it. It is important to understand the causes of these situations in order to find the cures and to prevent these situations from happening to our families, friends, and even ourselves. Click here for more information.