The #1 Cause of Homelessness in the U.S.
On a given night in Portland, OR, roughly 1,800 people are without shelter. In San Francisco there are 5,100 . Across the country nearly 200,000 people survive on the streets, exposed to various elements and often ignored by passersby. How does this happen? Why does it seem like the nation's homeless population grows each year, particularly in cities that are economically booming? The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty has concluded that the #1 cause of these staggering numbers is a lack of affordable housing . Not drug addiction or lack of motivation to work, but simply a lack of options in lower income housing. Using Portland and San Francisco as examples, the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1100 and $2700 , respectively. If someone is living paycheck to paycheck and, for example, loses their job, it isn’t difficult to see how they might fall short on rent and not have enough savings to sustain themselves. Factors like physical disabi...