ACLU Supporter –
All people – including those who are experiencing homelessness – deserve to be safe.
In Washington, there are over 28,000 unhoused individuals – nationwide, that number rises to over 650,000. Many in our community are on a razor-thin edge of housing instability due to:
- An extreme deficit of affordable housing units,
- Millions of renters living paycheck to paycheck,
- And a significant number of households severely burdened by rents that took up over half their incomes.
There is more to the story about the staggering rate of homelessness than many assume.
In order to understand the broader systemic issue of housing instability and homelessness, we need to start by debunking some of the most common myths.
MYTH 1: The majority of the unhoused population abuse drugs and alcohol. |
FACT: The rate of substance abuse among the unhoused population is similar to rates of abuse in the broader population. Substance abuse is rarely the sole cause of homelessness and is more often a symptom of it.
MYTH 2: Most people experiencing homelessness have a mental health disorder. |
FACT: While rates of homelessness for people with severe mental health disorders is high, most Americans with these disorders do not experience homelessness. This demonstrates that simply having mental health issues does not cause homelessness. Studies have found that only 25-30% of unhoused individuals have a severe mental health disorder.
MYTH 3: People who are unhoused are dangerous and violent. |
FACT: Not having a home doesn’t make someone more likely to commit a crime. Statistically, people experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims of violent crimes. Unhoused people are often targeted for their vulnerability, and this vulnerability is further exacerbated by media coverage that promotes this myth of violence as well as fear and suspicion.
MYTH 4: Bad choices led to their homelessness. |
FACT: The descent into homelessness is rarely the direct result of individual choices. For many, health issues, an accident, losing a job, or unmanageable debt leads to eviction and subsequent homelessness. More of us are only one crisis away from entering this cycle than we think.
MYTH 5: People who are unhoused are also unemployed; they just need to get a job. |
FACT: A significant portion of unhoused people do have jobs; they just cannot afford to pay rent. Additionally, significant hurdles exist for those who are trying to find work, including applying to a job without a permanent address, clean clothes, and the stigma of being homeless, which makes them less desirable candidates in a competitive job market.
You can learn more about our work around homelessness here.
Thank you,
ACLU of Washington
ACLU of Washington
P.O. Box 2728
Seattle, WA 98111-2728