Substance Abuse and Homelessness

Day by day, more Americans find themselves balancing on the razor's edge between shelter and streets, as housing security crumbles beneath economic pressures. Drive through any city’s downtown area, and you’re bound to see at least one, if not many more, homeless individuals or families residing along the streets or in homeless camps. In many cases, these people have been suffering from homelessness for years, and this has simply become their norm; this is known as chronic homelessness. Although this has become a way of life for many, homelessness doesn’t just happen; there are several factors that can lead up to this devastating last resort.

Homelessness really began to plague America in the 1980s when severe HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) cuts took place, resulting in the homeless population increasing to 200,000-500,000 on any given night, according to Christopher Jencks in his book *The Homeless*. In the last few decades, the numbers have only grown. As of 2017, California was the leading state for homelessness, with 24.28% of the adult population affected. Student homelessness was also significant, with 44.53% affected, as displayed by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Now, in 2018, the number of homeless individuals continues to increase. Other than HUD cuts, there are several reasons one may find themselves homeless, the most common being due to job loss, substance use, divorce, abandonment, and domestic violence. For instance, 63% of homeless women and children are homeless due to domestic violence, and 92% have experienced severe physical or sexual assault. Many of them cut connections while in the abusive relationship and once they were out, had no one to turn to and no assistance available. Substance abuse remains a significant reason people find themselves homeless.

Being addicted to any form of a substance almost inevitably places a strain on relationships between friends and family. It often leads to job loss, which can be catastrophic for those already struggling financially. The loss of a job can result in overdue bills and, in many cases, the loss of their home. With strained relationships already in full force, many addicts find themselves without a plan. According to Didenko and Pankratz in their article, "Substance Use: Pathways to homelessness? Or a way of adapting to street life?," two-thirds of homeless people report that drugs and/or alcohol were a major reason for their becoming homeless. Even if an addiction wasn’t present before becoming homeless, it’s highly likely that one will develop as a result.

Burdened by the never-ending hardships homelessness places on its victims, many of those suffering seek an escape. For 64% of them, they find that escape through drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is the excessive use of a drug (such as alcohol, narcotics, or cocaine); use of a drug without medical justification. Older generations of the homeless tend to lean more towards alcohol, while the younger generations are more susceptible to drugs. Drugs and alcohol are expensive, especially when bought frequently as addiction calls for. According to The Rehab Spot, the annual cost of addiction to alcohol ranges around $4,500, cocaine around $8,000, and heroin around $54,000. The fact that most of the money the homeless manage to obtain fuels their developed drug and alcohol addiction is the exact reason they’re stuck in that reality. Becoming dependent on an illicit substance only exacerbates their problems and decreases their chances of achieving employment stability. However, in the moment, many homeless people don’t think about this effect; surviving their situation is the main thing on their mind. Many homeless people have used up the available generosity and sympathy from friends and family, which makes kicking an addiction that much harder. Without a strong support group, the likelihood of getting sober and remaining that way is little to none, especially on the streets where drugs are so widely available and accepted.

The homeless make up a significant percentage of America’s population, and it only makes sense to assist them in becoming functional members of our society. There are already a few programs in place, such as emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe havens, which all provide some sort of temporary housing. The problem with these, however, is that there are more homeless people than beds or rooms available, and most of the sites require their residents to be sober. As mentioned previously, more than half of the homeless population suffers from addiction, making these options out of their reach. A better approach to reducing homelessness is to establish rehabilitation facilities targeted towards the homeless. Many homeless people can’t afford your typical rehab facility, making the desire to get sober less appealing. But if there were affordable, or even free, rehab facilities strictly for the homeless, they would have access to the chance of becoming sober and bettering their lives. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council emphasizes the importance of integrating substance abuse treatment with mental healthcare and housing to provide comprehensive, effective treatment. Detox, rehab, 12-step meetings, counseling, and medication management are among the services that homeless people need to recover from addiction.

Another successful method of getting people off the streets is to build career pathways with benefits such as housing and homelessness assistance, focusing on those who are most at risk or are already experiencing homelessness. Having a steady place to live while working allows the homeless to focus on their occupation first and then their own housing once they have established a comfortable amount of money. Not to mention, having an indoor living arrangement drastically decreases the individual’s chance of developing an ailment and increases their overall health. Organizations such as HomeFirst, based out of Santa Clara County, have recognized this need and now provide upwards of 350 beds per each of their 7 locations, including 18 reserved beds for the mentally ill, 20 beds for the medically respite, and 48 beds for veterans. According to their fact sheet, HomeFirst’s Boccardo Reception Center is the largest homeless service center in Santa Clara County. It provides shelter and transitional housing, housing search services, mental health counseling, employment search services, the area’s most comprehensive set of programs for homeless veterans, and a medical clinic. In just two years (2013-2015), Santa Clara County witnessed a 14% reduction in homelessness. If more organizations assisted the homeless in finding reliable shelter while also setting them up with a job, within a few years, the homelessness percentage in just California alone is bound to decline.

Another method, albeit more controversial, would be to contain the homeless by designating certain areas for camps. No matter how hard authorities try, homeless camps are likely to exist. If cities designated specific areas for the homeless to make camp, it would remove them from the streets, improving the curb appeal of the city itself. Of course, these camps cannot be a free-for-all. There should be rules and regulations set up by the city, like keeping the camp clean, establishing a strict no-crime policy, and making it subject to random searches. Giving the homeless a place to call their own will not only lift their spirits but also alleviate the burden of not having a place to go.

Currently, the homeless rate in America is steadily increasing, and sidewalks are beginning to become homeless camps. According to the Affordable Housing Finance, one out of ten people will experience some form of homelessness in their lifetime, theoretically making anyone at risk at any given time. Although there are many factors that can render one homeless, substance abuse is among the most credible. Not only is it a reason homeless people end up in their situation, but it is also a reason many stay that way. To reintegrate the homeless into valuable members of our society, we need to give them the support and resources needed to overcome addictions through a targeted program specifically designed to their needs. Along with that, more organizations should be formed to house and aid the homeless for free while finding them a steady job. If all else fails, legalizing certain homeless camps and giving the homeless a designated place to stay will decrease the number of homeless roaming the streets. Once they are sober and off the streets, they can focus on rebuilding their life and ultimately benefiting themselves and inspiring those like them. By addressing both immediate needs and long-term solutions, society can work towards a future where homelessness is not a persistent issue but a solvable challenge.

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