The factors that contribute to homelessness are mental health, addiction, tragic life events, as well as poverty, job loss and affordable housing. According to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (201), there is no state that has an adequate supply of affordable housing. People become homeless for many different reasons. They include, in part, poverty, lack of affordable housing, employment discrimination, substance abuse or mental health problems, LGBTQ children who are rejected by the family, domestic violence, lack of family ties, and children who age after leaving foster care.
Money is at the root of the homelessness crisis in the city: jobs that pay too little and housing that costs too much. Half of the homeless say they don't have housing because they lost their jobs and can't pay their rent.
