The social problem of houselessness impacts all of us. Some of us have lived in our cars. Others of us are sleeping on a friend’s couch tonight. Many of us are just one missed paycheck away from failing to pay our rent. Even when we are stable, we walk by people asking for change or folks pushing shopping carts with all of their belongings almost every day. In this chapter, we have explored the causes and consequences of houselessness from redlining to bluelining. We have examined the explanations of sin, sickness, and system to unpack our beliefs and explanations about this social problem. We have seen how communities and governments are weaving interdependent solutions to the problem. And yet, houselessness is still with us. The gap between incomes and rents continues to increase.

How will you take action?

4.7.1 Key Terms

blue lining: real estate that is considered high risk due to low elevation, and flooding due to climate change, may not qualify for loans.

class: a group who shares a common social status based on factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation

cost burdened households: a household in which 30% or more of a household’s monthly gross income is dedicated to housing, making it difficult to pay for necessities

homelessness: being unsheltered, having inadequate shelter, not having a permanent fixed residence, and/or lacking the resources to secure stable housing

housing insecurity: a broad set of challenges such as the inability to pay rent or utilities, or the need to move frequently

houselessness: lacking a place to live

income: the money a person earns from work or investments

NIMBY (Not In My Backyard): an acronym for “Not In My Back Yard”, which is the tendency for people to protest issues, particularly environmental, that affect them directly.

poverty: the state of lacking the material and social resources an individual requires to live a healthy life.

red lining: the discriminatory practice of refusing loans to creditworthy applicants in neighborhoods that banks deem undesirable or racially occupied

residential segregation: the physical separation of two or more groups into different neighborhoods.

SES – Socioeconomic Status: an individual’s level of wealth, power, and prestige

social mobility: the ability to change positions within a social stratification system

stratification: a socioeconomic system that divides society’s members into categories ranking from high to low, based on things like wealth, power, and prestige. Also called inequality.

4.7.2 Discussion Questions

1. What is the difference between houseless, homeless, and housing insecure?
2. Which explanations of houselessness—sin, sickness, or structure—are most useful to explain the causes of houselessness?
3. How do redlining and bluelining contribute to housing insecurity?
4. How does social location impact housing security?
5. How does the sociological concept of stratification help sociologists explain the causes and consequences of houselessness?
6. Which interdependent solutions to houselessness proposed by governments and communities create housing stability?
7. How effective are the services for people who are housing insecure or unhoused in your community?