Causes of homelessness

Today we are going to have a quick think about some of the causes of homelessness.

What is the cause?

Is it their fault?

Could it happen to anyone?

The most common reasons people give for losing their accommodation is that a friend or relative are no longer able to provide support, or because of relationship breakdown.

However, there are often a wide number of factors at play. Individuals can arrive at the point of homelessness after a long chain of other life events.

Individual circumstances: Some factors and experiences can make people more vulnerable to homelessness: these include poor physical health, mental health problems, alcohol and drugs issues, bereavement, experience of care, and experience of the criminal justice system.

Wider forces: Structural factors can include poverty, inequality, housing supply and affordability, unemployment, welfare, and income policies.

Complex interplay: Structural and individual factors are often interrelated; individual issues can arise from structural disadvantages such as poverty or lack of education. While personal factors, such as family and social relationships, can also be put under pressure by structural forces such as poverty.

If you just look at these very simplified examples then you can truly see it can happen to anyone - you neighbour, your friend and yes heaven forbid even you. None of us know what is around the corner.