Do People Choose to become Homeless

One of the most frequent myths about homelessness is that people choose to be so. The general public, as well as some workers in homelessness and health services get this wrong, so don’t be too concerned if you got it wrong too.

The short answer to the question is NO.

People do NOT choose to become homeless.

The longer answer, however, is a bit more complex…

Precursors to homelessness
We know that some of the precursors to chronic homelessness can be family breakdown, mental illness, trauma, learning difficulties, disability, health problems and addictions.

To say that people choose to be homeless is a bit like saying that children choose to have their families break down, that they choose trauma and abuse. It suggests that adults choose to have mental illness, learning difficulties, addictions or health problems. These are not choices people make.

In regard to briefer episodes of homelessness, people don’t choose to have their house burn down or to have their house located in the path of a cyclone. Eviction as the result of financial difficulties is usually not the result of choice, but often the result of unexpected events such as unemployment, ill health or financial problems. Again, these are usually not conscious choices.

So, why do people commonly think people choose to be homeless?

There may be a number of reasons why people think homelessness is a choice.

Sometimes this myth is reinforced by people who are homeless. As already noted, people who become entrenched in homelessness can adapt to a street based lifestyle. This helps them to cope and provides needed support from other people who are homeless. In adapting to homelessness, some people may become used to a transient lifestyle and after a period may state that they choose to remain homeless. This is quite different to choosing to become homeless in the first instance.

Long term homelessness can impact on self worth
People who experience longer term homelessness are also likely to have this impact on their sense of worth and self esteem. They may prefer to state they have chosen homelessness to help regain a sense of control over what has happened to them. Some may also prefer to continue to ‘sleep rough’ in preference to using services who’s rules and requirements they may prefer not to live with.

Some people may be waiting for long term housing

Some people may not want to use crisis accommodation and may be waiting to access public housing or another affordable housing option. Again, this is quite different to choosing to be homeless in the first instance.

Many of us aware that there is a shortage of affordable housing options in many Australian cities. There is also sometimes long waiting lists for public housing. People who may be reliant on Commonwealth income support (such as Disability or Aged pensions or Newstart allowance) will have fewer housing options because of their limited capacity to pay some market rents.

Adaptating to transience and homelessness
There may also be a very small group of people who are chronically transient and genuinely have no interest in staying in one place for any period of time. This may be because of a transient lifestyle learnt from their family of origin, as a result of a traumatic event or they may be ‘running’ from family or financial or legal problems.
Some people may be helped by legal advice and assistance

There is some evidence to suggest that people who may be trying to escape from problems they perceive to be insurmountable may be able to establish a firmer base and sustain longer term housing if someone assists them to deal with these problems. Free legal services for homeless people or financial counseling programs can help some people to deal with these issues.

‘Romanticising’ homelessness
The other reason that many people in the community may believe people ‘choose’ to be homeless is because, superficially, it can appear quite an interesting and enjoyable lifestyle. Although homelessness is often a stressful experience, to the casual observer it may not look that stressful. It may look as if people can sit around all day, drinking on the streets and mixing with other people. To those who may be heading off to work, paying bills and meeting other mundane obligations, this might look like an inviting lifestyle.

Homelessness can be very difficult
These superficial observations and romanticism of homelessness fail to acknowledge the complete picture. It misses the part when it’s raining, when there is no dry shelter, when all your possessions get wet, when it’s dark and cold and you’re alone, have no money, you’ve lost your personal papers, you’ve been bashed up just because you look like a ‘derro’, when you’ve missed out on a crisis accommodation bed because the service is full or when you’ve been told to ‘move on’ from a public space. It also fails to explain what it feels like to be treated as if you are invisible. You may live in a large city but people walk past you day after day and don’t even look at you.

Homelessness is not a choice.

Key points

• A common myth suggests that people choose to be homeless.
• People don’t usually choose to be homeless, but some do adapt to homelessness and may state they choose to remain homeless.
• Some people may be homeless but are waiting to access affordable accommodation.
• Some people ‘romanticise’ homelessness. This fails to acknowledge the stress and difficulties inherent in becoming and remaining homeless.