Jones (2015) informs us in the 1890s sociologists began the first studies of the homeless as a group, concluding that their poor economic state was the result of laziness and character flaws. During the 1950’s and 1960’s, a period of great economic prosperity occurred and very extensive studies on the causes of homelessness were conducted. However, due to the economic boom, a previously large homeless population had been reduced to mostly those who were mentally ill, severely disabled, and/or substance abusers (Jones, 2015). A powerful economic recession in the 1970’s caused a great resurgence of the homeless poor. They began to emerge into the public view and were made the subject of political debates about funding for homeless shelters and low income housing. In the early 1980s, the federal government used a report that showed there was no shortage in rental housing available to justify cutting federal spending on low income housing assistance. Jones (2015) asserts that poor social policies of the 1980s have had a lingering effect causing the homeless crisis to extend to …show more content…
Some factors may be beyond a person’s control. A dysfunctional home life may leave a person unprepared to enter society as an adult and be a productive member. Factors such as poor education, undiagnosed learning disabilities, and improper socialization modeling can all make it difficult for someone to fit into the community around them and feel accepted. Physical or mental illness can also drain a person’s resources and ability to care for themselves. Moreover, economic conditions and job loss can negatively affect even those who were previously healthy and productive members of society. A person may also choose to engage in behaviors that can erode their social bonds and cause them to be put out on the street. Substance abuse, gambling, and infidelity are some of the negative behaviors that people choose to engage in which can lead to homelessness and possibly loss of