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In short, homelessness is the state of having no home. People who are homeless don’t have their own home, so they are forced to live out on the streets, tents, cars, shelters, motels, etc..

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Homelessness in America is most common in west coast states such as California and Oregon, and also in New York and Washington D.C., however, homelessness is all around the nation as well as the world.

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Homelessness first became a national issue in the 1870s, where Americans began to transition to search for work and there started to be a trend and bigger emphasis on home life. When people weren’t able to keep up with this, couldn’t get paid enough, or simply couldn’t find work, homelessness arose. However, homelessness didn't start to pick up until the Great Depression in the 1930s, and it would later grow to become the modern problem it is today around the 1980s.

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Before the industrialization period in America, where major cities began to get built and wage-earning workers began to get hired for big employers, 93% of Americans actually lived outside of cities, meaning only a lackluster 7% of the population were living in the houses in cities. Of course, America as we know it rapidly grew and industrialized throughout the nation, and consequently, homelessness became a problem for those who were unable to stay on track with the new, modernized system. Today, homelessness is caused by a variety of things, with the top five most common being: lack of affordable housing, unemployment, poverty, mental illnesses, and substance abuse.

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Major Figures involved with Homelessness:

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Major Figures involved with Homelessness:

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The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 

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The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 

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The USICH is the only agency at the federal level with the sole responsibility of ending homelessness in America. Works across 19 federal agencies and departments, and with partners to improve federal spending outcomes for homelessness. USICH has certified more than 60 communities across 30 states that have ended Veteran homeless; since 2007, Veteran homelessness has decreased by over 45%.

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The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

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The United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

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The HHS has two “Strategic Action Plan(s)” since 2003 and 2007 on homelessness. Their 4 goals are outlined in an executive summary, stating: Goal 1: Prevent episodes of homelessness within the HHS clientele, including individuals and families, Goal 2: Help eligible, homeless individuals and families receive health and social services, Goal 3: Empower our state and community partners to improve their response to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, Goal 4:  Develop an approach to track Departmental progress in preventing, reducing, and ending homelessness for HHS clientele.

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How is homelessness currently being fought?

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How is homelessness currently being fought?

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Federal spending on homelessness is getting disbursed through a patchwork of programs and grants by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Homeless shelters are being funded and created

Donations and charities for the homeless

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Rights to shelter

Housing-based solutions

Prevention and stability

Current actions being taken are just the beginning as a lot of them are part of a plan that goes over many years