Complex and Connected: What causes chronic homelessness?

The causes of homelessness are complex and connected to one another. Listed are some of the reasons that people who come from a wide variety of backgrounds find themselves on the streets. The chronically homeless invariably suffer from a combination of these factors.


Mental Illness

Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illness;

Physical Disabilities

Profound injuries, illness, birth defects, or socially debilitating physical traits (such as disfigurement, dental deficiencies, or obesity caused by a “survival” mentally);

Educational Deficiencies

The inability to read/write, the lack of basic academic kills or no high school diploma;

Severe Trauma

History of sexual or physical abuse, combat, catastrophic loss of family, or a similar traumatic event;

Addiction

Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, and other addictions;

Severe Family Dysfunction

Abusive parents, broken homes, and/or multiple residences/caregivers;

No Family or Significant Support System

Total lack of family or support systems due to death, alienation, or institutional childhood;

Learning Disabilities

Dyslexia, ADHD and other disorders that interfere with education and life functioning;

Developmental Disabilities

Low IQ or brain damage that hinders intellectual functioning;

Criminal History

Existence of a criminal record that seriously limits opportunity;

Limited Occupational Skill Set

Inability to do anything beyond the most basic manual labor;

Transportation Deficiencies

Inability to purchase, maintain, insure, or legally drive a car or obtain transportation through public or private means;

Life Skill Deficiencies

Inability to manage the most basic life functions such as hygiene, housing, transportation, and interpersonal relationships;

Prior Long-Term Institutionalization

Extended stays in foster care, juvenile institutions, mental hospitals, prison, or other institution;

Generational Poverty

Two or more generations of family dependent on public assistance or charity for basic living needs that has fostered an attitude of hopelessness;

System Navigation

Inability to effectively navigate Government and Social Service Agencies;

Cognitive Disability

Impairment to how a person thinks reacts to emotions or behaviors, inability to problem solve, lack of understanding of consequences of ones actions, emotional immaturity, the all or nothing thought process, inability to manage life, impairment of mental process of knowing, including aspects such as reasoning and judgment

Generational Poverty

Two or more generations of family dependent on public assistance or charity for basic living needs that has fostered an attitude of hopelessness;

System Navigation

Inability to effectively navigate Government and Social Service Agencies;

Cognitive Disability

Impairment to how a person thinks reacts to emotions or behaviors, inability to problem solve, lack of understanding of consequences of ones actions, emotional.