How Easily a Person Can End Up Homeless—And Why It's Not Always Their Fault

Desolation.Photo byMeta AI

In today's society, many view homelessness as some sort of personal failing, resulting from bad decisions or not trying hard enough. The reality is much more complicated; people end up homeless due to nothing they did.

Take the case of Marissa Johnson, a 45-year-old single mom who had worked as an administrative assistant for a mid-sized company in her hometown. Never missing a day of work, Marissa did a pretty good job of taking care of two children. She lived in a modest apartment she rented and always lived within her means—never in her dreams could she think that one day she might be homeless.

But then, in early 2023, Marissa's company suddenly underwent restructuring. Her position was eliminated, with years of service meaning absolutely nothing to the company. The severance package was meager, and the job market was more competitive than she had bargained for. Marissa looked for a new job month in and out until she could search no more; her savings were dwindling, and soon she couldn't keep up with the rent. Despite all the hard work she did in trying, Marissa and her children were sent out into the streets.

Marissa's story is far from unique. In fact, the National Coalition for the Homeless reports that a surprising percentage of homeless individuals were those who lost their shelter due to circumstances beyond their control, such as sudden job loss, medical emergencies, or unexpected rent hikes.

Another very common factor is healthcare costs. A study by the American Journal of Public Health found that nearly half of all US bankruptcies are because of medical bills. For many, just one medical emergency could mean losing a home in a system where health insurance is often tied to employment.

What's more, it has rendered the housing market unaffordable for so many. Prices of rent in cities across the country skyrocketed, outpacing wage growth. For people living paycheck-to-paycheck, even the slightest rent increase might stand between them and not having a home—literally.

Not even the employed were spared. Mark Stevens, a 55-year-old factory worker who worked for the same company for more than 20 years …. When the factory shut down and the work was outsourced, he lost his job, losing his income with no prospects in employment anywhere in sight. His retirement savings were almost spent in trying to make ends meet. Once abiding in his car, Mark became one of the growing number of "working homeless" in America.

Despite all these stories, the public's perception continues to shift the blame onto the individual rather than acknowledging the systemic problems at work. Oversimplification of the homeless issue as one of laziness or poor choices belies reality, which for far too many is but one bad break from homelessness.

As society continues to grapple with homelessness, it's very important to note that it can happen to anybody, regardless of their work ethic, their financial planning, and personal responsibility. Very often, something as basic as bad luck makes the line between a life of stability and one of uncertainty. Something everybody should remember next time they notice a person experiencing homelessness.

Knowing this, we can shift from blame to compassion, advocating for policies that build better safety nets for people like Marissa and Mark, who never thought they would need them.