8 Myths About Homelessness for Writers
Day after day, we pass without a word or a glance, and our pace quickens as we veer around outstretched legs or the open palm, hoping for a coin or two. Then we move on. Not because we are uncaring people but because we are afraid of the unfamiliar and, perhaps, fear that the calamity that landed this nameless individual on the street could befall any of us. It is a moment that has become all too familiar and filled with questions.
Over the last four years, I’ve had the honor of meeting hundreds of Los Angeles’ unhoused as I’ve sought to understand the people and forces behind what is, arguably, the most devastating social challenge of our time—homelessness. Please allow me to pull back the curtain on a few myths about our unhoused friends, family, and neighbors who live on the streets of LA.
Myth: We’ve spent enough money on homelessness over the years
Thankfully, Los Angeles’ current political leadership has made homelessness a priority, and is funneling needed dollars to the issue. However, in the past, local and federal agencies have failed to utilize approved funds. These monies never made it to the homeless it was intended to help and it will require many billions more to provide adequate housing, sufficient life-skills & job training, mental health and rehabilitation supports that are the foundations for a healthy and productive life.
THE FACT IS: Between 2015 and 2020, $150 million worth of federal grants from HUD went unspent and LAHSA returned more than $29 million dollars it had been allocated.
Myth: People experiencing homelessness just need to get a job
It’s often assumed that if someone is homeless, it is because they do not want to work. Though this may be true for some, I have known many unhoused who want to work but cannot afford the childcare they would need or did not have a reliable address or valid ID needed for employment. Not only do they want to work, but they also desire true purpose in their lives and to be productive members of their community.
THE FACT IS: Research indicates that as many as 40%-60% of people experiencing homelessness have a job.
Elizabeth From Tulsa (Photo provided by Kim Watson)
Myth: Homelessness is caused mainly by mental illness or substance abuse
I was once told by a friend on the street that, “If you weren’t on drugs when you got here, you’ll get on them to survive being here.” Surely, mental illness and substance abuse leads to homelessness for thousands, however the loss of a job, medical bills, low wages, and personal economic catastrophes are the primary driving forces behind homelessness—not drugs and mental illness.
THE FACT IS: According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, “There is no county or state where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford a modest apartment.” And, The American Journal of Public Health and Housing Policy Debate “points to the importance of affordable housing and economic stability in preventing homelessness.”
Myth: Homelessness is a choice made by individuals
Ronald Reagan once stated, “The homeless are homeless by choice.” And I’ve heard this sentiment repeated by others, time and time again. Though some individuals do choose to live on the street for a variety of reasons, data indicates that economic events are the indisputable primary causes of homelessness. These events, such as job loss, or medical expenses are typically “beyond our own control” and not by our own choice, but rather, a “choice” made for us, by others or their policies.
THE FACT IS: “The majority of people experiencing homelessness do so because of economic hardship, and systemic factors beyond their control.” The National Alliance to End Homelessness
Jimmy (Photo provided by Kim Watson)
Myth: Homelessness only affects single adults who are unemployed
I recently watched a father guide his young daughter from their motel room, as she ate a hotdog he had prepared for her breakfast. With her hair neatly combed and clothes pressed, they made their way to her elementary school. Shortly after, several teenagers emerged from other motel rooms with backpacks slung over shoulders, headed for school. Their parents trailed behind, en route to work. At a glance, one might not realize that these families lack a permanent residence, but they are among the thousands of “homeless” who grapple daily with housing insecurity.
THE FACT IS: Single, unhoused, unemployed adults are more visible than families residing in vehicles, motels, or with relatives. According to HUD, “nearly one-third of people experiencing homelessness are part of families with children.”
Myth: Homeless young people are troublemakers and criminals
You can’t go far in Los Angeles without encountering unaccompanied youth (under the age of 25) living in tents and on sidewalks. Rather than criminal behavior, these individuals grapple with daunting personal obstacles that propel them to the streets. And now, a growing number of college students find themselves studying and sleeping in cars, forsaking traditional family homes, dormitories, or apartments. The challenges they confront include family neglect or abuse, aging out of the foster care system, LGBTQ+ discrimination, mental health challenges, and poverty. Without intervention these young people may face chronic homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, physical and mental health issues, and much more.
THE FACT IS: “On a single night in January 2020, approximately 36,361 unaccompanied youth under the age of 25 were experiencing homelessness in the United States,” according to HUD. The numbers are rising.
Photo provided by Kim Watson
Myth: Homelessness is an individual’s problem. Why should the community get involved?
Just as individuals are accountable for their decisions, our institutions must also bear responsibility for the policies and neglect that have led to our current conditions. The challenges of the few “individuals,” when left unaddressed, inevitably become the challenges of the many. It is in our best interest, as a community and a nation, to address these challenges together and with a spirit of hope and positivity.
THE FACT IS: Homelessness is rooted in systemic factors that date back over one hundred years, such as the age-old practice of Red Lining, and housing discrimination based on class, nationality, race, and gender preferences.
Check out Kim Watson’s Trespass here:
(WD uses affiliate links)
Myth: Nothing I do will make a difference
It is easy to feel discouraged when there’s a seemingly endless stream of individuals and families living without permanent housing. Lasting solutions seem elusive, as people, tents, and belongings are swept away, only to reappear within weeks. I get it. But I have experienced deep fulfillment by handing someone a bottle of cold water on a scorching Southern California afternoon, or sharing my restaurant leftovers that would otherwise waste away in the refrigerator, and even providing my own home-cooked meal to someone in need. Though always appreciated and reciprocated with love, I’m convinced that these small gestures do more for me than for the recipients, but that’s ok too. The truth is that it is a win-win for everyone, and even the little things mean a lot. Kindness and connection can save a life.
AND THAT’S A FACT!
FACT sources:
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)Los Angeles Homeless Services Society (LAHSA)National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC)The National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)Homelessness in Urban America StudyEmployment Situation of Homeless Adults: A Review of the Literature