Introduction
A condition of homelessness happens because status a person cannot afford a roof over their heads. Their problem of homelessness is difficult to address because it causes are multi-dimensional. Experts on the matter generally agree that the lack of shelter results from the combination of structural factors, systemic failures, and the unique circumstances of an individual. A further complication is that some homeless citizens prefer roughing it in the streets or their cars than making use of the system of homeless shelters within a city.
The term structural factors are used to describe the economic and social barriers a person faces when they want to satisfy their basic need of having shelter. For instance, in a report examining the state of homelessness in America, Aurand et al. explain the structural causes of homelessness by saying “Low wages, wage inequality, racial inequities and a severe shortage of affordable rental homes leave too many vulnerable people unable to afford their housing”(1). All this to say that first, poverty is intricately tied to the risk of being homeless. Poor people society is already living pay-cheque to pay-cheque. If they lose their jobs or they are unable to work, they are one pay-cheque away from living on the streets. Second, the lack of enough low-cost or rent-controlled housing is a structural cause of homelessness.
Systemic causes of homelessness are when “systems of care and support” for already vulnerable people fail, thus leading them to become homeless (“Causes of Homelessness”). For example, individuals transitioning from the foster care system or weak discharge planning for people leaving prison, rehab, and mental health facilities or the lack of housing support for newly arrived refugees. Some personal circumstances may also lead to living on the street (“Causes of Homelessness”). Victims of domestic violence or abuse, drug addicts, and people who are struggling with mental illness tend to wind up homeless when they are poor.
The problem of homelessness has historically been addressed through the proliferation of shelters where people with no shelter can get a safe place to sleep overnight (“Why Would a Homeless Person Not Want to Go to a Shelter”). But despite the good work these homeless shelters do, some people lacking shelter refused to be helped. They tend to prefer living on the street because they will retain their autonomy. Shelters have curfews, restrictions on the consumption of alcohol, they are drug-free zones and limit who can visit. For some unsheltered people, they’d rather stay homeless so that they can still have the freedom to live their lives as autonomous adults. For example, traveling is easy for a homeless person. They have no family or work commitments tying them down. Hence, they can move when they want. This would not be possible if they were spending nights in a shelter.
Conclusion
In summary, the condition of homelessness happens because status a person cannot afford a roof over their heads. Homelessness is difficult to tackle because its causes are multi-dimensional. It is caused by a combination of structural causes, systemic failures, and the unique circumstances of an individual. A further complication is that some homeless citizens prefer roughing it in the streets or their cars than making use of the system of homeless shelters within a city because they value their autonomy.
