Homelessness

Homelessness

1. What is Homelessness ?

   • Someone who is experiencing homelessness does not have a primary residence. He or she may be staying in a shelter, living on the streets, occupying a motel room, “doubled up” with friends or family, sleeping in a vehicle, or living in any other unstable or non-permanent situation.

2. Why do young people become Homeless ?

   • One of the major causes of homelessness for young people is the breakdown of family relationships. This usually happens when the family dynamic changes. More than half of the people who come to hyh (Herts Young Homeless) for help, have had to leave home because of serious disagreements with their parents or step-parents. Sometimes family conflict has been a long-term issue, and often violence is a contributing factor. Vulnerable young people are left without the support of their family and can feel like they have nowhere left to turn. While family breakdown is the most common cause of homelessness among young people many other issues such as unemployment, debts and health problems also contribute to the problem.

3. Who is Homeless ?

   • Homelessness can happen to anyone. Homelessness does not define a person but is instead a temporary situation. Homeless Connections serves people of all races, genders, ages, ethnicities, and educational backgrounds. Some contributing factors to homelessness include chronic poverty, job loss and underemployment, a lack of affordable housing, mental illness, addiction, and domestic violence. There is no single face or cause of homelessness, but people experiencing homelessness do have shared basic needs including affordable housing, suitable income, and health care. Some people experiencing homelessness may require additional services such as mental health or addiction treatment services to achieve self-sufficiency. All these needs must be met to prevent and end homelessness.

4. What campaign helps Homelessness ?

   • The campaign that helps with homelessness is Red Cross. Red Cross's mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Our network of generous donors, volunteers and employees share a mission of preventing and relieving suffering, here at home and around the world, through five key service areas: 1. Disaster relief 2. Supporting military families 3. Lifesaving blood 4. Health and Safety services 5. International services