Title: Causes of Homelessness - Invisible People
Headings: Causes of Homelessness
Causes of Homelessness
Why Are People Homeless?
Lack of Affordable Housing
Challenges Contributing to the Causes of Homelessness
C4 innovations
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Content: Causes of Homelessness - Invisible People
Causes of Homelessness
Why Are People Homeless? There are many, complex causes of homelessness. At a basic level, people become homeless when their wages and income are not enough to cover rent or a mortgage and other necessities like food, medicine, health care, transportation, and child care. Circumstances and life-altering events that cause a person to become homeless include: Low-paying jobs
Lay-offs
Serious illnesses or accident
Lack of income
Loss of a loved one or divorce
Lack of support networks
Evictions
Foreclosures
Poverty
Natural disasters (i.e. hurricanes, floods)
Fires
Economic forces, policy decisions, budget priorities, societal trends, and attitudes about public assistance all contribute to the causes of homelessness. In recent history, economic and financial circumstances related to the Great Recession—the worst global recession since the Great Depression—resulted in high rates of foreclosures and unemployment. As a result, may people were pushed out of their homes. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), the COVID-19 pandemic can contribute to increasing homelessness. If people lose their jobs due to layoffs, illness, or to take care of sick family members, they may have a hard time paying their rent or mortgage and could become homeless. For more information on COVID-19 and homelessness, visit our resource page.