University of Maryland
Sociology 498: Homelessness 

Causes of homelessness


Our "main" list includes the following:

  1. Disabilities
  2. Substance abuse
  3. Family breakdown
  4. Joblessness and poverty
  5. Lack of (low cost) housing
  6. Government policy: welfare, housing policy, shelters

We have also had some other possible causes raised (and will always be on the watch for others) which we will not be evaluating as much. Some of these are linked to one of the above six: immigration, for instance, increases the risk of joblessness and removes family supports and because of these links increases the risk of homelessness. Others, (e.g., wars, hurricanes) explain a different type of homelessness than what we usully encounter in the street today:

Eventually, we will want to use our analyses of these causes to help us evaluate what policy responses would be most effective.
 


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Last updated March 1, 2006
comments to: Reeve Vanneman. reeve@cwmills.umd.edu