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| '''Homelessness''' is a condition in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence. | '''Homelessness''' is a condition in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence. | ||
| ⚫ | There are a number of causes of homelessness. In areas with high ] many may not be able to find jobs, and thus pay for a permanent residence. In other areas many homeless may be employed, but paid such a low ] that they cannot afford decent accommodation. Some studies suggest ] and other housing regulations create homelessness by reducing the supply of housing. Social changes, such as the movement to recognize the rights of those considered mentally ill, could lead to increased homelessness, as such people can no longer be arbitrarily rounded up and committed to ]s. | ||
| Homelessness can often produce a ]. With no ], permanent ], or place to get changed and washed it can be very hard for the homeless to find jobs. | |||
| A number of homeless, but in most country to minority, suffer from ], ], or ] that makes finding a job difficult. | |||
| While many homeless do have paying jobs others have to find other methods to make money. ] or panhandling is a method but is illegal in many areas and brings in little money. More lucrative is ] by performing tricks, playing music, drawing on the sidewalk, or some other form of entertainment. | |||
| ]s operated by government, churches, or charities work to provide temporary housing to the homeless. ] is a more expensive, but a better long term, solution that can help end the vicious cycle. Some shelters also provide food, others must turn to ]s and ]s for nutrition. | |||
| ==World Statistics== | ==World Statistics== | ||
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| :United Kingdom: crisis.org.uk estimates 400,000 without a permanent home, of which about 600 sleep on the streets (2001) | :United Kingdom: crisis.org.uk estimates 400,000 without a permanent home, of which about 600 sleep on the streets (2001) | ||
| ⚫ | The number of homeless people worldwide has grown steadily in recent years. In some Third World nations such as Brazil, India, and South Africa, homelessness is rampant, with millions of children living and working on the streets. See also ]. | ||
| ==United States== | |||
| See also | |||
| In the ] in the ], homelessness became an important political topic and is widely assumed to have risen dramatically at this time. However, it is very difficult to prove this assumption, because data for previous years is almost completely non-existent. It is not certain to what extent this new focus on homelessness represents an increase in the extent of the problem, or an increase in public awareness of a condition that had always existed without comment. | |||
| *] | |||
| ⚫ | *] | ||
| Attempts to measure homelessness are often saddled with difficulties of ascertainment, definition, and methodology. There is no obvious direct way to count people who are defined as being 'not in a home'. Indirect methods, such as counting people who sleep in shelters or who eat at ]s, provide estimates that can vary widely in degree of accuracy. Additionally, the definition of homelessness can be broadened to include, for example, a man who sleeps on a friend's couch until he finds a place of his own. Methodological questions such as, should a person who is homeless just one night in the year be included in the annual total, can also cloud the issue. | |||
| ⚫ | There are |
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| Traditionally single men have constituted the overwhelming majority of the homeless. In the 1980s there was a sharp rise in the number of homeless families in certain parts of the United States (notably ]). Most homeless families consist of an unmarried mother and children. A significant number of homeless people are teenagers and young adults, mostly ]. | |||
| Sometimes the term '''urban outdoorsman''' is used as a ] for a homeless man. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The number of homeless people worldwide has grown steadily in recent years. In some Third World nations such as Brazil, India, and South Africa, homelessness is rampant, with millions of children living and working on the streets. See also ]. | ||
| ]] | ]] | ||
Revision as of 18:15, 20 May 2004
Homelessness is a condition in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence.
There are a number of causes of homelessness. In areas with high unemployment many may not be able to find jobs, and thus pay for a permanent residence. In other areas many homeless may be employed, but paid such a low wage that they cannot afford decent accommodation. Some studies suggest rent control and other housing regulations create homelessness by reducing the supply of housing. Social changes, such as the movement to recognize the rights of those considered mentally ill, could lead to increased homelessness, as such people can no longer be arbitrarily rounded up and committed to mental hospitals.
Homelessness can often produce a vicious circle. With no phone number, permanent address, or place to get changed and washed it can be very hard for the homeless to find jobs.
A number of homeless, but in most country to minority, suffer from alcoholism, drug addiction, or mental illness that makes finding a job difficult.
While many homeless do have paying jobs others have to find other methods to make money. Begging or panhandling is a method but is illegal in many areas and brings in little money. More lucrative is busking by performing tricks, playing music, drawing on the sidewalk, or some other form of entertainment.
Homeless shelters operated by government, churches, or charities work to provide temporary housing to the homeless. Subsidized housing is a more expensive, but a better long term, solution that can help end the vicious cycle. Some shelters also provide food, others must turn to food banks and soup kitchens for nutrition.
World Statistics
The following statistics indicate the approximate average number of homeless people at any one time. Each country has a different approach to counting homeless people, so comparisons should be made with caution.
- European Union: 3,000,000 (Unicef 1998)
- United States: 750,000 (Unicef 1998)
- Canada: 200,000 (CBC News December 1998)
- Australia: 21,000 (Unicef 1998)
- United Kingdom: crisis.org.uk estimates 400,000 without a permanent home, of which about 600 sleep on the streets (2001)
The number of homeless people worldwide has grown steadily in recent years. In some Third World nations such as Brazil, India, and South Africa, homelessness is rampant, with millions of children living and working on the streets. See also Child#Street child.
See also