homelessness

Homelessness refers to the condition of lacking stable, safe, and adequate housing. It encompasses people who are unsheltered (living on streets or in public spaces), those in emergency shelters or transitional housing, and others who are staying with friends or relatives on a temporary basis. It is distinct from housing insecurity, which describes at-risk individuals who may have unstable housing but are not currently without a residence.

Causes and risk factors include a combination of economic and structural factors such as insufficient affordable housing, poverty, unemployment, and housing policy gaps. Personal factors can include mental health conditions, substance use disorders, trauma, and family breakdown. Social dynamics, discrimination, and cycles of poverty also contribute, and protective systems such as income support and housing subsidies vary widely by place.

Impacts: Homelessness is associated with higher exposure to violence, poorer physical and mental health, chronic disease progression, barriers to education and employment, and increased mortality. It also imposes public costs related to emergency care, policing, and social services.

Measurement and typology: Homelessness is categorized into unsheltered, sheltered, and couch-surfing forms, with episodic and chronic patterns. Data rely on censuses or point-in-time counts, which may undercount certain groups and miss hidden homelessness. Definitions differ across countries.

Responses: Policy approaches include housing-first strategies that prioritize stable housing with services, along with rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and eviction prevention. Complementary efforts address health care, mental health and substance use treatment, income support, and affordable housing development. Community organizations and local governments coordinate services and data collection.