Addiction And Homelessness Essay

Over the course of only two years, the homeless population in the city of Phoenix, Arizona has increased by a shocking 23% (Clark Pg.1). This increase took place between 2020 and 2022 and we have yet to see that rate of homelessness begin to decrease. Unfortunately, homelessness is a nationwide issue that affects over 582,000 citizens and is a result of many different underlying problems (Homelessness in America). However, the recent increase in homelessness in Phoenix has been caused primarily by addiction, the lack of affordable housing, and unemployment.

Addiction and substance abuse affects over 20 million Americans (Minkove Pg. 1). Consequentially, substance abuse was reported to be responsible for 68% of single homeless adults (Stonewall).

But addiction can easily deter relationships between family and friends, creating a potential to getting kicked out which in turn leads to homelessness. Not to mention that relying on substances can also lead to people being unable to hold a job. Without a job or source of income, homelessness becomes a possibility as the worst-case scenario. There has been known to be quite a lot of overlap between addiction, substance abuse, and homelessness. As mentioned before, not everyone struggling with addiction or substance abuse is necessarily homeless as a result. A 2008 survey performed by the Stonewall Institute was taken by 489 homeless people and confirmed that substance abuse is a cause of homelessness. The survey was about the possible effect addiction had on homeless people’s current circumstances. Over half of the people interviewed, 68% to be exact, noted that substance abuse was their primary reason for either disrupting or losing their housing situations altogether. Alcoholism was the most reported disease, making alcohol the leading substance that led to the homelessness of the 489 people surveyed. Although alcoholism was a key contributor to homelessness in this

In fact, according to Time, last year the price of median houses in this area increased by a third. Over the last 2 years, that’s a total price increase of 57%. “Unfortunately for locals, wages in the area have not been on the same high-speed elevator, growing only 5.3% in 2021 (Time).” The recent Covid-19 Pandemic undoubtedly had an impact on our economy. As a result, as Covid cases increased, so did the prices of living options as well as everything else. During the pandemic, “single-family homes alone increased in price by 27% in a single year (Homelight).” For people previously struggling with affording their living situation, the increase in housing prices contributed more to those struggles. Making this a prevalent contribution to the increase in the homeless population in Phoenix, as well as the rest of the country which continues to face repercussions from the pandemic. However, before the pandemic, it’s safe to say financial struggles were still taking place and there were people unable to afford living situations regardless. Recent data collected by the National Low Income Housing Index, revealed 193,961 households in Arizona are considered to have ‘extremely low income’. Not to mention that 76% of said households have a “major cost burden” and “There are currently only 26 affordable and available rental homes per 100 extremely low-income renter households in the state (Nlihc Pg.1).” Making