Myths About Homelessness

Reducing, and eventually ending homelessness depends a great deal on approaching the causes and conditions of homeless with a perception that is grounded in facts. Unfortunately, some perceptions of homelessness have been clouded by common myths.

Georgia's homeless people are from somewhere else.

Most Georgians - homeless or otherwise - were born somewhere else. Many of Georgia's homeless people were not homeless when they arrived.

More services will attract more homeless.

This is part of the "magnet theory." In reality, however, people come here for the same reasons others do - economic opportunity. People don’t travel across the country for a temporary stay at a shelter. Usually the prospect of a job is the primary reason for leaving a familiar environment and traveling to a new city.

The police should do something.

People who are homeless have lost their homes, not their civil rights. Being homeless is not a crime. The role of police is more often one of referring homeless persons to sources of help.

The government will take care of these people.

Government at all levels is hamstrung with limited tax revenue. More than ever, the private sector is being asked to help out.

Charitable groups will take care of the homeless.

The growth of homelessness has far outstripped the capacity of charitable groups. Homelessness is a societal problem that requires a partnership between private charities and the government, with active public support.

They should be put back in mental health institutions.

Many homeless people aren’t considered to be in need of any mental health service. One-third are believed to be severely mentally ill. Some are also addicted to drugs and alcohol. The majority of these can be helped through outpatient counseling and medication. Very few would qualify for costly institutionalization.

Their families should take care of them.

Families are often no longer available. In many cases, the breakup of the family or the need to flee from abuse is what led to homelessness. In other cases, families themselves are destitute.

Most homeless are living on welfare.

Only Georgia's women and men with children are eligible for TANF. Currently 20% to 25% of Georgia's families receive TANF, with an average payment of $249. Families receiving this support are limited to a lifetime limit of four years and requires work assignments and active job searching. It is not a "free ride."

Homeless people with drug and alcohol abuse problems don’t want to change.

Recovery from substance abuse is a long and difficult process for most people. People who are attempting to recover, however, face particularly formidable challenges if they are homeless. Outpatient and residential treatment programs are difficult to find without resources.

It’s their own choosing.

The overwhelming majority of homeless persons want to get off the street, and into a residence. Many people make bad choices at some time in their lives. Among those on the economic margin, a bad choice can result in homelessness. The alienation and deprivations accompanying homelessness do not help people learn new and better choices. Sometimes, the effect is just the opposite.

They are out there from their own doing.

Some are. Most aren’t. Those who are on the street because of bad decisions along the way shouldn’t be made to stay there indefinitely. If someone has an accident from making a wrong turn, should they be left injured on the street?

We see who the homeless are.

An estimated 10 - 15 percent of the population is observed on the street. These are most often chronically homeless, and involved in substance abuse or mental illness. Many other homeless people, particularly women with children, go out of their way to be not noticed.

Most homeless break the law.

Serious crime is not attributed to the homeless population at any higher rate than is found in the general population. Those who have been on the streets for any length of time have usually received citations -- typically for illegal lodging, trespassing, jaywalking, drinking, and failure to appear. Homeless people are more likely to be victims of crime.

Panhandlers are homeless.

Even though they spend much time on the street, many panhandlers are often not homeless. Those people holding "Will Work for ..." signs are often deployed by organized solicitors, and are working in exchange for room and board.

What they need to do is get a job.

Most often, available jobs are at or near minimum wage, with not enough for housing. In order to look for any job, homeless persons need an address, a phone, a place to clean up, and transportation.

Homeless men should be working.

About 20 percent are working regularly. Some aren’t able to work. Others want to work, but need assistance with the problems that led to their homelessness.

The homeless would be happy if we could get them all together somewhere (somewhere else).

Somehow, people are mistakenly viewed as being in a single group once they have become homeless. However, the only common denominator is their lack of a home. Creating a homeless ghetto is not the answer.

Homelessness can be taken care of once and for all.

As long as there are not enough jobs, affordable housing, and support services for the very poor, there will be people with no place to live.

Once a person is no longer homeless, his or her problems are solved.

Problems which caused or accompany someone’s homelessness do not go away simply because living accommodations are found.

The rest of us have the right not to have to deal with the homeless all the time.

It is personally disturbing to see homeless people trying to survive on the streets. But blaming people who do not have the means to solve the problem is not useful. Helping to do something positive about homelessness is an effective way to deal with the discomfort of seeing these daily conditions.

Downtown Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, and Savannah are the only places in the state to survive when you’re homeless.

Poor people gravitate to metropolitan areas when they run out of resources. Downtown areas offer a transportation hub for looking for jobs and other resources. However, many homeless individuals and families reside in beach areas, in farming communities, and in suburbs throughout the state. Here, they can survive more safely and without being noticed.

There are shelters for these people.

There are shelters - but these can only hold about 50% of the Georgia's homeless. The majority of these shelters are in downtown Atlanta and rural homeless have nowhere to go. Even those who find shelter space are only allowed to stay for 30 days.

Used by permission from

Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness, Inc

www.gahomeless.org