Why do people become homeless?

Some folks believe that the reason people become homeless is because they are lazy. This is a myth. Many people who become homeless are working or had been working for a long time until something caused them to lose their employment. Sometimes people have injuries that prevent them for doing the kind of work they’re trained to do. Sometimes they lose a job because of cutbacks. Working hard doesn’t always guarantee financial security.

Everyone has their own story. Some common issues that contribute to persons becoming homeless include: lack of education, lack of affordable housing, lack of employable job skills, addictions, and mental illness. It’s important to remember, however, that these issues, by themselves, usually don’t cause homelessness. It is usually a collision of several of these issues simultaneously which eventually leads to a person’s homelessness.