Why do people become homeless?
Despair has got to be a factor. Loss of hope, giving up.

Why do people lose hope?
I think our society is messed up. We are raised on fairytales. First it starts with Disney, then it migrates to all the happy-endings in film. We are filled with endless advertising about the dream-life awaiting us, and reality shows fill our imaginations.

We will all drive a luxury vehicle, live in a McMansion. We will never go grey, or bald. Our teeth will never rot. Our sex lives will be great, and we will spend as much time on vacation as doing work, which isn't actually "work", but a passion or "play" that we love.

The solution is setting expectations right: stoicism.

We need to raise our children on the notion that life is unfair, that life is toil. Don't expect too much.

I suspect that if we could go back in time, a certain significant percentage of homeless people would not be homeless if they had been raised with different expectations of life.

So, then, how to address THAT after the fact?

Stoicism.
Before they give up.

Your analysis really lets the Sacklers and our inadequate mental healthcare system off the hook.

I think your analysis applies more to unhappiness, depression and over prescription of antidepressants…..but most of those people hold down jobs and pay rent.

I don't believe many of the people of whom you speak are passed out on the sidewalk on Fentanyl, getting Narcan-ed a few times a month, sh@itting in the street, talking and yelling at imaginary people, bashing heads in with rocks at encampments and taking early morning strolls across lanes on the freeway or on active railroad tracks.

bearister said:

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Your analysis really lets the Sacklers and our inadequate mental healthcare system off the hook.

I think your analysis applies more to unhappiness, depression and over prescription of antidepressants…..but most of those people hold down jobs and pay rent.

I don't believe many of the people of whom you speak are passed out on the sidewalk on Fentanyl, getting Narcan-ed a few times a month, sh@itting in the street, talking and yelling at imaginary people, bashing heads in with rocks at encampments and taking early morning strolls across lanes on the freeway or on active railroad tracks.

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I appreciate the post!

I'll agree that there are many types of mental illness, many times of drug use, many levels of despair and causes of all the above.

I think you and I both highlighted 2 such groups.

I'm no expert in this arena. One who is could probably toss us some vast literature on it all. All of it tragic and lamentable.

The group I was referring to are those who even start or try. Though that's a vast list of reasons.