Causes for Homelessness

Mianna Sullivan

Homelessness in America

Homelessness in America
According to Home Aid America, every year in the U.S.A., there are about
3.5 million people who are homeless, with more than 1 million being
children.
An article titled America's youngest outcasts: a report card on child
homelessness, tells us that one in every 30 children in the U.S. is
homeless (Bassuk, et al., 2014).
Move for Hunger explains that chronic homelessness means individuals
who experience long-term or repeated times of homelessness. Although it
is the face of homelessness, it makes up only about 18 percent of
homelessness.
Often times, homelessness is due to unforeseen life circumstances. Today,
there are many top causes of homelessness in America (LeBlanc, 2016).

Loss of a Loved
One

It is easy to feel like life

cant move on after losing
a loved one. For some, this
feeling lasts for a few days,
weeks, or a couple months.
For others, this sad feeling
does not go away, and
their life may eventually
result in homelessness.

Job Loss

Sometimes an employee
will lose a job, not
because of inadequacy,
but because the place for
which they work has
closed down.

Abuse

It is not uncommon
for mothers to take
their children and
leave an abusive
environment in hopes
of finding a more
secure home.

Family Disputes
Divorce and/or family
disputes can leave
someone (or many people)
in a tough situationwhether that be not having
enough money, not having
a home, or not having a
support system-and can
therefore lead people to
homelessness.

Mental Illness
Mental illness, such as depression,
anxiety, or PTSD, can put people on the
streets of homelessness if it is not
treated.
For example, Veterans are a specific
demographic when it comes to
homelessness, veterans often
experience homelessness because of
disabilities caused by their experience
on the battlefield. Physical injuries,
post-traumatic stress and mental
suffering are just a few of the wartime
after effects that drive the population
of homeless veterans (Hunger, 2016).

Physical Disability

Physical disabilities can

lead to homelessness
because treating them can
be incredibly expensive,
especially when one does
not have a stable support
system.

There is Help
Fortunately, for people
who are homeless,
there is help.
Many organizations
are not only dedicated
to helping people who
are homeless, but
helping people leave
homelessness.

Home Aid America

Home Aid America is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
building homes for people who
are homeless. Their mission is
to build new lives for Americas
homeless families and
individuals (LeBlanc, 2016).
We, as American citizens, can
volunteer with this organization
to build communities and help
improve the lives of those who
can benefit.

Security & Freedom

No matter what
the circumstance,
everyone in the
U.S.A. deserves the
security and
freedom of having
a place to call
home.

Works Cited

Health, N. Coping with Grief. 2009. Photograph. NIH. Web. 7 July 2016.
Core, A. Loss of Job. 2015. Photograph. Andy Core. Web. 7 July 2016.
LeBlanc, M. Framing Goes Up On First Memory Care Homes in San Diego for Adults
with Developmental Disabilities. 2016. Photograph. Home Aid America.
Web. 7
July 2016.
Mandrapa, N. Tom and Jerry. 2016. Photograph. Novak Djokovic
Foundation. Web. 7 July 2016.
Block, D. Divorce. 2016. Photograph. Expert Beacon. Web. 7 July 2016.
Edinger, A. An Open Letter to Society About Mental Illness. 2016. Photograph.
Odessy
Beta. Web. 7 July 2016.

Works Cited Continued

Encyclopedia, T. International Symbol of Access. 2016. Photograph. Wikipedia. Web. 7
July 2016.
Seay, M. Watch: Homeless Man in Viral Lottery Gets a Home. 2014. Photograph. Urban
Mecca. Web. 8 July 2016.
America, H. Home Aid and CBRE Team Up to Help Homeless in Atlanta. 2015.
Photograph.
PRLOG. Web. 7 July 2016.
Hale, A. Heartwarming Images of People Feeding the Homeless. 2015. Photograph. Wow
Amazing. Web. 7 July 2016.
Hunger, M. "Hunger and Homelessness." Move for Hunger. N.p., 2016. Web. 7 July 2016.
LeBlanc, M. "Top Causes of Homelessness in America." Home Aid America. N.p., 2016.
Web. 7 July 2016.
Bassuk, E., et al. "America's Youngest Outcasts: A Report Card on Child Homelessness."
Australian Policy Online (2014): n. pag. Web. 8 July 2016.