Homelessness
Mar. 28th, 2025 05:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithSubstance abuse often follows homelessness, not precedes it — new study finds
According to a recent poll from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 57% of Americans believe that alcoholism and drug addiction directly lead to people losing their housing.
It is true that substance misuse -- and problematic use of substances as prescribed -- can lead to homelessness, because it impairs ability to hold a job and perform other social behaviors that America demands of people. Anyone who can't keep up is abandoned.
In fact, 42% of unhoused Californians reported that they began to use regularly only after they experienced homelessness for the first time.
It's hardly a surprise that people in a miserable condition will seek to relieve their suffering by any means available.
In order to qualify as civilized and functional, a society must meet most needs of most people most of the time. Survival needs (food, water, shelter, clothing, health care, physical safety, etc.) should be guaranteed to the extent that the society possesses those resources. America is downright bad at this. When addressing homelessness, the base is simple: homeless people don't have a stable residence. So you solve that problem by providing a humane residence. This then makes it much easier to address any other problems such as unemployment, substance misuse, mental issues, etc. that often intersect with homelessness.
According to a recent poll from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 57% of Americans believe that alcoholism and drug addiction directly lead to people losing their housing.
It is true that substance misuse -- and problematic use of substances as prescribed -- can lead to homelessness, because it impairs ability to hold a job and perform other social behaviors that America demands of people. Anyone who can't keep up is abandoned.
In fact, 42% of unhoused Californians reported that they began to use regularly only after they experienced homelessness for the first time.
It's hardly a surprise that people in a miserable condition will seek to relieve their suffering by any means available.
In order to qualify as civilized and functional, a society must meet most needs of most people most of the time. Survival needs (food, water, shelter, clothing, health care, physical safety, etc.) should be guaranteed to the extent that the society possesses those resources. America is downright bad at this. When addressing homelessness, the base is simple: homeless people don't have a stable residence. So you solve that problem by providing a humane residence. This then makes it much easier to address any other problems such as unemployment, substance misuse, mental issues, etc. that often intersect with homelessness.
Yes ...
Date: 2025-03-29 09:34 pm (UTC)