Homelessness:  Why does it happen?

In Geography 445 we learn that homelessness occurs for several reasons.  There is no single way to pinpoint the causes of homelessness.  During our week of homeless discussion some of the articles we read suggest several factors for why a person or family might lose their home or are not able to find a home at all.

Personal poor decision making

Many people who are homeless became that way because they make poor life choices.  These are the people who were generally raised up in good families; however they eventually deviate and get into trouble.  Poor decision making includes choosing to use drugs and alcohol, gambling addictions, choosing to associate with deviant individuals or groups such as gangs.  A lack of education or choosing to drop out of school also falls under poor decision making.

Poor decision making by parental units

Some individuals are homeless because of poor decision making by their parents.  These parents often make the same mistakes as described above.  When these parents have children under the age of 17, the children are often sent away from their homes and forced to go to other location such as foster homes through programs like child protective services.  However, there are circumstances where these children are not able to find a foster family and in that case they are sent to juvenile detention centers and correctional facilities until they are legally old enough to be considered an independent adult.  After the age of 18, they are on their own and often wind up on the streets due to their past experiences.

Social and economic conditions

There are several sub factors to social and economic conditions that lead to homelessness.  More often then not, a person is laid off or fired from their work and cannot find the resources necessary to find further employment.  Eventually, individuals cannot make the necessary wages to sustain a home or even find enough money for food, even if they do manage to find employment.

Living under the care of others

Our class readings, in particular the *Charles Hoch article suggests that homelessness not having a home that you can call your own.  Hoch suggests that even those who are living with family or friends can be considered homeless simply because they choose to or are unable to find a home of their own.  This point could be very argumentative because senior citizens who choose to live with their families instead of going into retirement homes could be considered homeless.

Other Factors

There are several other factors that contribute to homelessness.  These factors include mental illness, eviction, violence ect., as well as many other smaller factors that while alone, may not be a significant cause of homelessness but together present a formidable presence for homelessness.

*Hoch, Charles. Sheltering the Homeless in the U.S:  Social Improvement and the Continuum of Care

Housing Studies, Vol. 15, No. 6; 2000.

Below is a chart of families in transitional housing in Seattle

By reason for homelessness.  October, 1999.

(source:  http://cityofseattle.net website, human services division

A Brief History and Mission Statement from Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission

Offering Hope Since 1932

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission (UGM) is a private faith-based organization that helps the community reach out with compassion to those who have lost hope. And as a community, we empower one another to build, lead and give back.

UGM has taken a collaborative, partnership approach from the start. The Mission was born of necessity during the Great Depression when hundreds of people were going hungry and homeless in Seattle. Local business leaders and churches came together to change all that.

Seventy-one years later we’re still a change agent. Our expertise, trustworthiness and faithful commitment to service have brought us national recognition.

Some facts and figures
This last year UGM served 423,809 meals and provided 115,293 overnight stays. Staff and volunteer professionals conducted 17,941 counseling sessions and 932 dental visits. 93 men and women completed six-to-24 month recovery and training/study commitments. Attendance at our youth programs reached more than 600 young people as we serve families in Seattle's urban neighborhoods.

Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.

(Source:  Union Gospel Mission of Seattle.  http://www.ugm.org/AboutHistory.asp)