Myths about homelessness

The shutdown ended and sequestration remains in effect. Because public policy is shaped by perceptions of homelessness and the homeless, it seems important to dispel some of the myths that have been around for years now.

 

Perception #1: Let’s start with the impression that homeless people are all drug addicts, winos, mentally ill or criminals.

 

Reality: In 2012, families comprised 46% of Kansas City homeless. In our experience, 2/3 of the family is children. Families have been the fastest growing segment of the homeless population for the last several years.

 

Perception #2: Homeless people don’t want to work.

 

Reality: Every adult who comes to Community LINC looks for a job. About 1/3 of our homeless families were employed when they came into our program. Unfortunately, they earned less than the federal poverty level.  In 2012, 75% of those able to exit for their own home exceeded the federal poverty level.

 

Perception #3: Anyone who works can get housing.

 

Reality: In 2012 the median monthly housing cost for a renter in Kansas City was $764. The median wage for a fast food worker was $8.69 per hour or $1,506 per month IF they are full time. At 50% of monthly income, they will be considered severely housing cost burdened. Without benefits, if anything goes wrong, a fast food worker remains at risk of homelessness. The average wage for our families upon exit in 2012 was $10.10 and $8.98 this year to date.

 

Perception #3: Homelessness is a lifestyle choice.

 

Reality: We haven’t encountered any homeless families that chose to be homeless. We’ve encountered people who were unemployed, or in low wage jobs, escaping domestic violence, etc. who just couldn’t find housing they could afford.

 

Perception #4: Services are just a handout.

 

Reality: We believe in a hand up, not a hand out. Our partnership with the families we serve includes the expectation that they are moving toward self-sufficiency. We provide job search support, mental health counseling, and life skills like budgeting and savings. In other words, we provide the tools clients need for self-sufficiency.

 

Perception #5: It’s an insurmountable problem.

 

Reality: There are programs that work. This year, about 96% of exiting our families are no longer among the homeless and about 75% left for permanent homes of their own. Nationally, the focus on housing first and then services has reduced the number of chronically homeless individuals by a third.