Homelessness

Homelessness has grown and has become more visible since the 1970s, especially in urban areas. It remains difficult to measure because of different definitions and policy interests. Typologies of homelessness are helpful in the study of the issue. Subpopulations have also been identified such as homeless migrants, youth, and women, each with different characteristics and needs. Until recently, there was little acknowledgment that homelessness existed in rural areas, and the understanding of rural homelessness is minimal compared to that of urban homelessness. Structural causes of homelessness include changes in mental healthcare, trends in substance abuse, and lower housing availability. Mortality rates are extremely high across homeless populations. Responses to homelessness have seen important changes from the staircase model to the Housing First model. Urban governance responses to homelessness have been limited in their effectiveness, apart from in Finland. A greater role for a citizenship agenda should be encouraged to address this problem.