Who Experiences Homelessness?
People Who Have Insufficient Income to Make Ends Meet
When wages and benefit programs don’t keep up with rising rents, many people struggle to make ends meet. Learn how a lack of income leaves people vulnerable to homelessness and what we can do to solve it.
When Income Falls Short, Housing is Out of Reach
For people living on low wages or relying on public benefits, the math just doesn’t add up. Housing costs keep rising, but incomes and benefits haven’t kept pace. It’s no surprise that the poorest people in America are also the most likely to experience homelessness.
Low Wage Workers
For people trapped in low-wage jobs or informal work arrangements, paying rent often feels impossible. 1.02 million hourly workers earn $7.25 or below — the federal minimum wage — and are forced to spend a massive percentage of their income on housing, leaving little for essentials like food or healthcare.
People Who Face Workforce Discrimination
How Lack of Income Drives Homelessness
Homelessness is a direct result of income inequality. People with insufficient incomes, especially those in need of public benefits, find it nearly impossible to compete in the housing market. Let’s take a closer look at how this happens.
The Struggles of Low-Income Workers
For many low-wage workers, paying rent takes up the majority of their paycheck. These workers are often one unexpected expense away from losing their homes.
Challenges for People Who Require Public Benefits
Programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provide essential support, but they haven’t kept up with rising living costs. This leaves many people—especially those with disabilities—at a high risk of homelessness.
People Who Face Income Inequality
Income inequality mirrors the inequalities we see in homelessness. People of color, women, and those with disabilities face additional barriers to securing stable housing due to income disparities and discrimination.
The Real Cost of Insufficient Income
Homelessness doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s the result of a system that makes it difficult for the poorest people to get ahead. And when wages don’t cover rent, housing instability is inevitable.
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