6.7.1 Essential Ideas

Learning Objective 1: How can we see houselessness as a social problem?

Houselessness is a social problem because it goes beyond the individual’s experience. Wider social forces like the economy or the amount of affordable housing in an area influence who is housing insecure. Houselessness reflects a conflict in values between businesses, the government, and the houseless people. Being poor, LGBTQIA+, a person of color, or other social locations that experience oppression increases your chances of being houseless. In addition, our ideas and explanations of who is houseless change over time. Even whether we call someone homeless or houseless is socially constructed. Finally, it requires action from advocates, non-profits, and businesses along with changes in laws and policies to end houselessness. Creating housing stability is social justice.

Learning Objective 2: How does the sociological concept of social stratification help sociologists explain the causes and consequences of houselessness?

Stratification is a socioeconomic system that divides society’s members into categories, ranking from high to low, based on things like wealth, power, and prestige. The higher your social class, the more likely you are to have stable housing. In fact, the more wealthy you are, the more likely you are to have multiple houses, own other people’s homes, or own vacation rentals. The less wealthy you are, the more likely your household is to be cost-burdened and therefore experience housing insecurity.

Learning Objective 3: Who is likely to experience housing insecurity or houselessness based on their social location?

Even though most homeless people are White men, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are disproportionately houseless. LGBTQIA+ make up a disproportionate share of all homeless youth. Housing stability is a form of privilege.

Learning Objective 4: How have sociological explanations of housing insecurity changed over time?

Explanations of houselessness include sin: a person has a moral failing, sick: a person has an illness or a problem, or structure: systemic inequality causes houselessness. Sociologists recognize that racist exclusionary policies have created residential segregation and related housing instability. In addition, climate change and related natural disasters are creating additional housing insecurity, disproportionately impacting people in poverty.

Learning Objective 5: Which interdependent solutions to houselessness can create housing stability, a measure of social justice?

Because the causes of houselessness vary, interdependent solutions vary also. They include funding more shelters and temporary housing, focusing on housing first, building more affordable housing, de-criminalizing houselessness, and other options. Safe housing is a basic human right, and housing stability is social justice.

6.7.3 Discuss and Do

1. The chart in Figure 6.18, Racist Policies, Racist Inequities, and Racist Ideas in Housing, illustrates Ibram X Kendi’s definition of racism as “…a marriage of racist policies and racist ideas that produce and sustain racial inequities” (2016). What is an example of racist policies, racial inequities, and racist ideas that have impacted who has a home?
2. One of the White privileges from Chapter 2 is the ability to acquire safe, stable housing. However, White people are the majority of houseless people. Is class or race more important in predicting who might be houseless?
3. Three narratives, sin, sickness, and structure, are often used to explain why people are homeless. Please find a newspaper, magazine, blog, or other stories describing “the homeless problem.” Do you see sin, sickness, or structure narratives, or a combination of the three?

4. Poverty Simulation: Open the link “Paying the Bills” and select “Make a Copy” when prompted. Complete the exercise.
5. Different Needs Different Solutions: Different populations experience houselessness for unique reasons. Pick one of these populations and answer: Why are these folks houseless? What interdependent law, policy, or community solutions would help?

• Elders: The Aging Homeless Population Brings New Challenges
• Latino Homelessness: Stemming the Rise of Latino Homelessness: Lessons from LA County
• BIPOC: The Link Between Racism and Homelessness
• LGBTQ Youth: Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth
• Unhoused People who are Formerly Incarcerated: New data: The revolving door between homeless shelters and prisons in Connecticut
• Women: Women More Likely to Face Housing Insecurity in Pandemic-Led Recession
• College Students: Supporting Students’ Housing Security in Oregon
• K-12 Students: Dozens Of Oregon School Districts Likely Undercounting Homeless Students
• You can also analyze a social group that interests you