5 Myths About Homelessness Debunked

by Varshini Viswanathan

Homelessness is one of the most visible and misunderstood social issues today. At Living Outside, we engage with people experiencing homelessness every single day– and we’ve heard the same myths repeated time and time again. Misconceptions don’t just misinform society, but also allow for stigma-based policies that only exacerbate the issue and isolate homeless individuals. It’s easy to form impressions without having the full picture. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common assumptions, and what the data and real-life experience show us instead.

Myth #1: People are homeless because they’re lazy or don’t want to work.

The reality is that many people experiencing homelessness do work, and some hold two or more jobs. In fact, a 2023 study by the National Coalition for the Homeless found that over 40% of unhoused adults had a form of employment within the previous year. 

More often than we think, homelessness is the unfortunate result of systemic issues like low wages, skyrocketing housing prices, job layoffs, and lack of affordable healthcare/childcare. You could work full-time and still not afford rent in most major U.S cities. The problem isn’t laziness; it’s our system that fails to provide livable wages and affordable housing.

Myth #2: People who experience homelessness are addicted to drugs or alcohol. 

While substance use disorders do exist in unhoused individuals, it is misleading to assume that it’s the primary cause of homelessness. Substance use is most often a result of trauma or mental illness. The experience of being unhoused or unemployed can often worsen mental health and trigger or deepen substance use. Based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), only about 26% of people who experience homelessness have a chronic substance use disorder. Many others are in recovery or they haven’t struggled with substance use. 

Myth #3: People choose to be homeless.

No one chooses to live without a stable shelter. What some people interpret as “choice” is often a lack of good options. For example, some might refuse shelter beds because they don’t allow pets, or may have dangerous conditions; Infectious diseases (including HIV, tuberculosis, and Hepatitis), mental health issues, (commonly depression), physical injuries, and malnutrition are only a few of them. It doesn’t necessarily mean they want to be homeless. It just means that our system failed to offer humane and better alternatives. 

Myth #4: Homelessness is mostly a problem in big cities.

Homelessness exists everywhere, including suburban and rural communities. It just looks different for rural homelessness. Examples of this can be people sleeping in cars, couch-surfing, or staying in unsafe places due to a lack of nearby shelters. 

These individuals are often invisible when debated about publicly, and harder to include in official counts. Although they are often left out of official statistics, these individuals are just as real, and need support. 

Myth #5: Solving homelessness is impossible.

Homelessness is solvable. Cities and countries that have invested in “Housing First” models and permanent housing without preconditions have seen dramatic reductions in homelessness. The solutions already exist.

What’s missing is not the ideas, but rather the political will, sustained funding, and public support to scale them. And that public support starts with something a lot deeper–recognizing people who experience homelessness as our own neighbors, and as those worthy of acknowledgement and love too.

Let’s Replace Misconceptions with Meaningful Action

At Living Outside, we work to bridge that gap. By reducing preconceived notions and creating genuine human connection, we take a very important step forward to a future where housed and unhoused people see each other as equals. Only then, can the larger solutions like housing and policy changes take root.

By challenging harmful assumptions and advocating for known solutions, we can support building a future that everyone can safely call home. 

Want to be part of the solution? Join our mission by donating, volunteering, or sharing this article!

References

Pagaduan, J. (2022, September 2). Employed and Experiencing Homelessness: What the Numbers Show. National Alliance to End Homelessness. https://endhomelessness.org/blog/employed-and-experiencing-homelessness-what-the-numbers-show/

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2024). Homelessness Data & Trends. Usich.gov. https://usich.gov/guidance-reports-data/data-trends

National Coalition for the Homeless. (2017). Substance Abuse and Homelessness Policies. https://nationalhomeless.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/06/Substance-Abuse-and-Homelessness.pdfEVIDENCE-BASED RESOURCE GUIDE SERIES Guide Overview: Expanding Access to and Use of Behavioral Health Services for People Experiencing Homelessness. (2023). https://library.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep22-06-02-007.pdf?