“What do we do about people who choose to be homeless?”
A lot of people have asked me that question lately. Maybe it is the explosive growth of tent cities popping up around the country.
My answer is simple: Nothing.
We shouldn’t do anything about people who choose to be homeless because no one chooses to be homeless. I have met thousands of individuals while they were homeless and not a single one “chose” it.
There are three “types” of homelessness:
- 50% of people are homeless 2 weeks or less – They certainly don’t choose homelessness.
- 40% of people are homeless 2 weeks to 1 year – They certainly don’t choose homelessness.
- 10% of people are homeless over a year.
This last type is what the federal government calls “chronic homelessness.” On its face, being homeless for years can look like a choice, except…
Consider three factors:
1. Mental illness
- 18% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from schizophrenia. That’s not a choice.
- 19% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from bipolar disorder. That’s not a choice.
2. Traumatic Brain Injury
- 53% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from a traumatic brain injury. That’s not a choice.
3. Trauma
- 100% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from trauma (“PTSD”). That’s not a choice.
- 60% of chronically homeless individuals suffer from C-PTSD (a severe form of PTSD caused by repeated traumatic events). That’s not a choice.
Substance abuse certainly factors in, of course. I didn’t include it because substance abuse is often an attempt to cope with mental illness or trauma. Additionally, using substances alters the brain, removing true choice.
So, the answer to the question of what to do about individuals who are “homeless by choice” is easy. A far more difficult (and important) question is:
“What do we do about people who struggle with severe mental illness and trauma?”
The answer to that question (or lack thereof) says a lot about the morality of a country or community.
Peace,
Ryan
