Mar 21

Written By One Roof

Tell me more about the causes and solutions of homelessness.

… Homelessness 101

March 21, 2024

The 2024 editions of the Case Manager Newsletter will be geared

towards learning more about homelessness. For this newsletter,

let’s dive into the causes and solutions of homelessness.

Causes of Homelessness

According to the Homeless Hub, there are three distinct reasons people become homeless.

"The causes of homelessness reflect an intricate interplay between structural factors, systems failures and individual circumstances. Homelessness is usually the result of the cumulative impact of a number of factors, rather than a single cause."

Click here to read the full article on the causes of homelessness.

Myths and Facts about Homelessness

MYTH: Homelessness is a permanent problem. We will never solve it.
FACT: Permanent housing has been proven to reduce homelessness and save taxpayer dollars otherwise spent on costly shelters and hospitalizations.

MYTH: It is their fault they are homeless.
FACT: The real increase in homelessness comes from the lack of real affordable housing and few resources for people to move out of shelters and into permanent housing.

MYTH: People would not be homeless if they had a job.
FACT: A full-time minimum wage worker could not afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent in any state. Many people experiencing homelessness either have a job or suffer from disabilities and other barriers to employment.

MYTH: It is solely the responsibility of the city/government to address homelessness.
FACT: Homelessness is a community issue and it will take the community to help solve it. One Roof is the lead agency for the homeless Continuum of Care. There are over 60 partner agencies which include shelters, the faith community, landlords and city/state organizations working together to help end homelessness.

Solutions to Homelessness

The National Alliance to End Homelessness believes that homelessness is a solvable problem. From working with policy to developing and promoting best practices, the Alliance focuses on effective, efficient solutions to homelessness.