The Housing Problem - The Primary Reason For Homelessness

Research indicates that the primary cause of most homelessness is the inability to pay for housing, caused by some combination of low income and high housing costs. While many other factors may contribute to homelessness, such as a low level of educational achievement or mental illness, addressing these problems will seldom bring someone out of homelessness by itself. The underlying issue of not being able to afford housing will still need to be addressed.

New York University (NYU) researchers conducted a study that showed no real difference exists between homeless people and the rest of society, other than housing affordability issues. Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the NYU team conducted a five-year study of 564 homeless families. They presented their results in Predictors of Homelessness among Families in New York City: From Shelter Request to Housing Stability (November 1998).

The research team found that when homeless families were provided with subsidies that allowed them to afford housing, 80% remained housed in their own residence for at least a year. This was true regardless of their social or personal attributes, such as their education level, race, or sex. This confirms the idea that while many homeless people face difficulties due to their personal backgrounds, these problems are not what drove most of them into homelessness. Furthermore, if given access to affordable housing, most will be able to take advantage of it.