Each November, we observe National Homelessness Awareness Month to bring attention to the many factors that can lead to someone experiencing homelessness. This month is also an opportunity to reiterate that each of our neighbors deserves community, care, and dignity, especially as an estimated 40,000+ people are experiencing homelessness in King County alone.
There are many myths about homelessness, many of which are reinforced by a lack of knowledge about the often-unseen systemic root causes. Read on as we debunk five popular myths.
1. All people who are homeless are using drugs.
People may experience homelessness for any number of reasons. Not everyone who experiences homelessness is using drugs, or has a substance use disorder, though these factors certainly make it harder for someone to maintain stable housing. As our region becomes increasingly unaffordable and people struggle to keep jobs, more and more people will experience unstable living situations. Most research shows that around 1/3 of people who are homeless actively use substances and around 2/3 of these people have lifetime histories of substance use disorders.
2. Sweeps are the most effective way to end homelessness.
Many people focus on the visible indicators of homelessness like the number of tents, belongings, or large congregations of people seen in busy neighborhoods. When authorities “sweep” encampments, they often do so with little to no notice. People lose their shelter and possessions and are displaced from community. These sweeps do not bring people closer to resources, nor do they instill trust in the people conducting them. Instead, they make homelessness appear less visible—instead of less common—and keep people focused on survival and where to rest their head rather than making their next treatment or medical appointment. Taking a punitive rather than compassionate approach shifts focus away from long-term healing to criminalization. We’ve been in this work for 50 years—punitive responses rarely work and can exacerbate existing challenges.
3. Homelessness would never happen to me.
You may have heard people place blame on individuals and say that they personally would never be homeless, but the fact of the matter is, many people are only a few steps away from being unhoused even if they don’t’ realize it. It is true that some demographics of people are less likely to lose their housing because they are more likely to have a broader safety net—whereas Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) experience inequities that not only undermine community health and safety but also reinforce legacies of systemic racism and oppression. Job loss, substance use disorder, or life-altering mental or behavioral health challenges can impact any person, but BIPOC individuals are at a disproportionate disadvantage. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported in their 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, that individuals of color, particularly Black, African American, or African and American Indian, Alaska Native, and Indigenous populations are considerably overrepresented among individuals experiencing homelessness (accounting for 69% of individuals experiencing homelessness).
The root causes of both homelessness and harmful substance use are intersecting and systemic, like lack of affordable housing, trauma, racism, poverty, , or inaccessibility of mental health services. So long as affordability remains a challenge—which is certainly true in Washington State—unsheltered homelessness will continue to be a possibility for many people.
4. People who are homeless should just get a job.
We have already discussed some of the interconnected factors that contribute to homelessness, like unaffordability and systemic failings. There are a meaningful amount of people who are unhoused who have jobs but still can’t afford housing like paying for rent. And even if they can afford the rent, that doesn’t mean they will be able to easily find a place to live. Landlord discrimination against past or current homelessness, eviction history, involvement of criminal justice, and income source can all prevent people from achieving housing security. Barriers like these can keep people homeless – even if they’re working, and even if there are affordable units available in their area.
Plus, to qualify for employment, or most housing options, you need identification. For people who have been unhoused or in the throes of harmful substance use for many years, this documentation isn’t always readily available. It’s extremely difficult to keep a job without a permanent address, if you are constantly being forced to move locations, with legal proceedings due to petty theft, or when in need of mental, physical, and behavioral health care. Before people can begin working, it’s crucial that they are safe and stable.
5. There are no real solutions to homelessness.
When people who are unhoused get access to behavioral health resources and a safe place to rest at night, they have a higher chance of healing, recovering, and thriving. Solutions do exist: models of integrated care that support people’s long-term recovery, on their terms; affordable housing; medication for opioid use disorder; trust-based outreach; and connection to a continuum of care all support healing. These solutions can be scaled. We just need to invest in them.
Did you learn something in this blog? Share with your community and spread the word about National Homelessness Awareness Month!
The post 5 Myths About Homelessness (and What’s True) appeared first on Evergreen Treatment Services (ETS).