How does being homeless feel?

Being homeless is destabilizing, demoralizing and depressing. You’ve lost your base, a foundation from which to function. It becomes hard to focus. Constant obstacles chip away at your self-esteem and your healthy personality withers, disintegrates, scatters.

How does being homeless impact people’s lives?

Loss of ability and will to care for oneself. Increased danger of abuse and violence. Increased chance of entering the criminal justice system. Development of behavioral problems.

What is the life of a homeless person?

People who experience homelessness have an average life expectancy of around 50 years of age, almost 20 years lower than housed populations. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that people experiencing homelessness are at a greater risk of infectious and chronic illness, poor mental health, and substance abuse.

How does homelessness affect communities?

It Can Compromise Public Security. Many homeless people struggle with mental health issues of some sort. Most of the time, their mental illness is brought about by their traumatic upbringing. As a result, communities with high rates of homelessness also have high crime rates.

Why does a child live on the streets?

Why do some children live or work in the street? These factors will also vary over time, such as poverty, displacement due to natural disasters and conflicts or family breakdown all lead to increases in the numbers of street children in a given area.

How do homeless people survive in the streets?

Some of them live in shelters; some of them live on the streets; some under bridges; some sleep in doorways, and some stay in abandoned apartments. Some go to homeless shelters to eat and some go to churches. Some of them have their mail go to the shelter, others have mail come to the West Side Catholic Center.

How does social isolation cause homelessness?

Often, cycles of addiction, domestic violence and mental illness begin or end in homelessness. Homelessness and social isolation are closely linked to cycles of intergenerational disadvantage. Often, cycles of addiction, domestic violence and mental illness begin or end in homelessness.