The population of homeless people in the United States is classified in a number of different ways. The primary classification system of the nation’s homeless population is based on the time frame different cohorts lack regular or permanent housing. In addition, the homeless population is broken down based on demographic considerations. These different methodologies of classifying the homeless population are presented and discussed in this article.
The trio of Time-Oriented Homelessness Classifications
At the heart of classifying the homeless population in the United States is a focus on the time frames people in the country are without permanent housing. This classification scheme focuses on three categories of homelessness in the country:
- Chronic Homelessness
- Transitional Homelessness
- Episodic Homelessness
Chronic Homelessness
Chronic homelessness is defined as a person who is consistently homeless for a period of one year, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. At the present time, Los Angeles has the highest population of chronically homeless people in the United States.
About 24 percent of the entire homeless population in the United States is classified as chronically homeless. 65 percent of chronically homeless individuals in the United States live on the street, in cars, in abandoned buildings, in parks, or in other locations not meant for human habitation.
Transitional Homelessness
Transitional homelessness involves a person who is without a home for less than a year due to some sort of emergency or catastrophic event. The majority of people classified as homeless in the United States fall into this category. A larger percentage of this cohort reside in homeless shelters than is the case with the chronic homeless population.
Episodic Homelessness
Episodic homelessness is defined as a person who goes in and out of homelessness time and again. Individuals experiencing episodic homelessness tend to be people afflicted with substance abuse, recurring medical problems, and mental health issues.
Demographic Homeless Categorizations
Although the overall population of homeless people can be divided into a multitude of categories, there are five demographic cohorts of homeless people that draw considerable attention. These are:
- Homelessness and Mental Illness
- Homelessness and Substance Abuse
- Homeless Families
- Homeless Veterans
- Homeless Youth
Homelessness and Mental Illness
One demographic cohort of the homeless population is comprised of people laboring under some type of mental illness. 20 to 25 percent of the homeless population is thought to suffer from some type of mental illness. This contrasts with about 6 percent of the general population that is estimated to be afflicted with a mental health condition.
There is an important caveat to bear in mind when it comes to homelessness and mental health. There is a segment of this demographic cohort that was afflicted with a mental health condition and ultimately became homeless, in part because of mental illness. There is also a segment of this demographic cohort that became homeless and then developed a mental illness. The stark reality is that life on the street can degrade a person’s physical and mental health.
Homelessness and Substance Abuse
Researchers believe that approximately 38 percent of the homeless population abuses or is addicted to alcohol and 26 percent abuses or is addicted to other drugs, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless. A considerable majority of this cohort ended up homeless primarily because of their abuse of or addiction to mind-altering substances. A small percentage of this cohort developed abuse or addiction issues after becoming homeless, likely as a coping mechanism to their plight.
Homeless Families
Another demographic cohort defining the homeless population is comprised of homeless families. Approximately 33 percent of the homeless population in the United States consists of families without homes, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The total population of homeless families in the United States is said to be over 56,000 families.
A majority of homeless families in the United States are comprised of single parents, the vast majority of which are women. A considerable percentage of parents heading up homeless families hold jobs.
Homeless Veterans
Veterans comprise just under 10 percent of the population of homeless people in the United States as of the end of 2018. Over 90 percent of the homeless vet population is made up of men. The largest group of homeless veterans are those who served in the Vietnam War.
Homeless Youth
Youth is yet another demographic cohort of the overall homeless population in the United States. This is a cohort set apart from children who are homeless but are with their families. This cohort is comprised of people under the age of 18 that have ended up homeless and on their own.
A shocking 1.3 million children under the age of 18 are thought to be homeless at any point in time in the United States, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. 75 percent of homeless youth are girls. Of that number, between 6 to 22 percent are pregnant at any given point in time. Upwards to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as being part of the LGBTQ community.
Homelessness remains a significant issue in communities across the United States. A growing percentage of these communities are taking coordinated steps towards developing comprehensive programs to combat homelessness. For example, some jurisdictions like Los Angeles County have enacted a special sales tax to be used to eradicate chronic homelessness in their communities within a defined period of time.