Since the dawn of civilization, every society has grappled with the issue of homelessness which is a lamentable reality. However, diverse cultures have tackled this concern differently. Under more socialist regimes, the government typically assumes responsibility for the homelessness problem, providing essentials like housing, food, and clothing. In more capitalist societies, the burden is usually borne by private citizens and organizations. While it’s not accurate to label one approach as better or worse than the other, it’s apparent that no system has completely resolved the issue at its core. This is just one among the numerous heartbreaking truths about homelessness.
Oftentimes homelessness starts with mental issues, post traumatic stress disorder, drug use, and disability. One possible reaction is to assume the Darwinist position. This would say that those who cannot provide for themselves will either go hungry or not have a place to live. While most people don’t outright adhere to this position, it is often the underlying assumption that many of us have, especially when we simplify the position into lazy people and non-lazy people. Another possible position is to assume the altruist position. This would say that we should do everything we can to help those who have little. It too, often over simplifies the problem. Not all homeless people are the same and many require different types of assistance. These are 25 hard to swallow facts about homelessness.
California accounts for 20% of the homeless population in the United States
Source: hudexchange.info, Image: wikipedia California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Massachusetts account for half of the homeless population in the US
Source: hudexchange.info, Image: wikipedia 1 out of every 50 American children will be homeless at some point in their lives
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia The 3 most commonly cited causes of homelessness are poverty, lack of affordable housing, and unemployment
Source: United States Conference of Mayors, Image: wikipedia In any given year about 1 out of every 200 American adults will be homeless
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia A growing number of anti-homelessness laws around the country has caused the United States to receive criticism from the United Nations Human Rights Committee
Source: United Nations Human Rights Committee (2014), Image: wikipedia At least 30 cities have criminalized giving food to the homeless
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In some areas, like Hawaii, officials have attempted to solve homelessness by providing one way plane tickets elsewhere
Source: time.com, Image: wikipedia A study at Princeton found that our brains tend to process images of homeless people more like they process objects than actual human beings
Source: time.com, Image: wikipedia There is actually an entire generation of homeless Japanese youths who live and sleep in internet cafes
Source: japan-talk.com, Image: wikipedia A 59 year old homeless man in North Carolina held up a bank for $1 in order to be sent to jail and receive healthcare
Source: rt.com, Image: wikipedia
Fatherless homes produce 70% of high school dropouts, 85% of kids in detention facilities, and 90% of homeless children
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Nearly one quarter of homeless people in the United States are veterans
Source: nationalhomeless.org, Image: wikipedia Nearly half of those veterans have a diagnosable mental illness
Source: nationalhomeless.org, Image: wikipedia There has been a National Hobo Convention in Britt, Iowa every year for the past century. They even crown a King and Queen.
Source: brittiowa.com, Image: wikipedia The country of Albania built hundreds of thousands of bunkers under communism. Today some of them are used to house homeless people
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Nearly 1/3 of homeless people in the United States are younger than 24
Source: U.S. Department for Housing and Development, Image: wikipedia About half of the youth on the street report that their parents knew they were leaving but didn't care
Source: Why They Run: An In-Depth Look at America's Runaway Youth, Image: wikipedia Sylvester Stallone was homeless and even sold his dog for $50. Not long after, however, he sold the script for Rocky and bought back his dog for $3,000
Source: news.com.au, Image: wikipedia Nearly 20% of youths will run away at least once
Source: Urban Institute, Image: wikipedia HIV rates are up to 9 times higher among the homeless than in comparative samples of the population
Source: Robertson, Marjorie. "Homeless Youth on Their Own.", Image: wikipedia While veterans, people with disabilities, and single parent families have always been at risk of homelessness, these days more of the working class is at risk of homelessness than ever before
Source: greendoors.org, Image: wikipedia In some regions like Central Texas, the fastest growing population of homeless people is women and children
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia In 2012 a homeless woman in Canada returned a purse she found that contained $10,400
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia There are 5 times more vacant houses in the United States than the number of homeless people
Source: Amnesty International, Image: wikipedia 
