For some people homelessness is where all the injustice, misfortune, and mistakes of their life drain to. It's the final resting place for these problems. It's the result of these problems, and homelessness couldn't exist apart from these ingredients.

• Mental Illness


• Substance Abuse


• No Affordable Housing


• Lack of Education


• Abuse and Violence


• Personal Tragedy


• Natural Disaster


• Living Outside Social and Cultural Standards


• Economic Depression


• Lack of Safety Net (Family, Friends, Neighbors, Community)


• Government Regulation


• Prejudice and Discrimination

I use to think of homelessness as it's own separate social problem, but I'm beginning to realize that it's really the organic clumping of various issues. Each dependent on the other.