Deborah K. Padgett, a leading scholar on homelessness, is interviewed by NYU in the article below where she debunks the biggest misconceptions about people experiencing homelessness.
Here are a few misconceptions that she mentions in her interview:
1)Many homeless abuse drugs and alcohol:
-Only 20-40% have a substance abuse issue
-Substance abuse is rarely the sole cause of homelessness and is usually a result of living on the streets.
2)Homeless are violent:
-People experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be the victims of violence rather than the creators of violence.
3)"Bad choices" led to their homelessness:
-It is rarely a bad choice that can cause someone to experience homelessness
-In fact, it is more often caused by a sudden event like loosing a job, being evicted, or large amounts of debt.
4)They prefer to be on the street:
-There has never been evidence stating this claim is true
-Support services are almost always welcomed by homeless
-People experiencing homelessness often "reject the option of crowded, unsafe shelters—not housing in general."
5)Homeless are unsanitary because they do not care:
-Almost all homeless have no regular access to places to maintain their hygiene
-Based on research and interviews of homeless, the lacking of a shower is "one of the more humiliating aspects of being homeless."
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