Many believe that homelessness happens to someone else, somewhere else.
That distance can provide a sense of “safety,” but it also gives rise to assumptions that are inaccurate and harmful.
For over a decade I have worked alongside our neighbors experiencing homelessness. I know firsthand that homelessness is a complex issue that requires compassion and permanent solutions.
The myth is “homelessness could never happen to someone like me.”
As humans, we believe we’re immune to hardship — “Bad things happen to other people, not me.” The truth is, homelessness often begins with circumstances many of us could face like illness, disability and job loss.
The facts: A closer look at who is experiencing homelessness
According to data from our community and national studies:
55% of people ex