When people think of a vulnerable group, the elderly, migrants, people with mental illnesses, the LGBT community, etc. come to mind. They are the best-known groups and also those with the largest support networks. But What happens to the homeless? The fact that there are people without a home and without money to cover the basic basket is a big social problem at an international level, although some countries have known how to handle it better than others.
This group has various vulnerabilities, and unfortunately the biggest is invisibility. There are investigations on the subject but from the negative perspective of the impact they have on the country, but not from the psychological consequences of not having a roof when being part of homelessness, nor the health risks they have, nor their high probability of developing a mental disorder. We will talk about this briefly in the next few lines.
The main causes of homelessness can be divided into two groups: personal and social, although both are related and ultimately the determinants are social, while personal factors are related to the risk of falling into homelessness in statistical terms.
On the one hand, we have the neurobiological determinants: propensity for psychopathologies and that these are not treated adequately, and also anxiety and high levels of stress in individuals without support networks. For the other, traumatic experiences childhood experiences, sexual or physical abuse, family conflicts or violence, substance abuse, increase the risk of falling into this situation.
Social
Social exclusion due to belonging to a minority, vulnerable group, or discrimination due to race, religion, or preferences, is a factor closely linked to homelessness. On the other hand, the economy is also very relevant: living with low income, instability, and poor family planning due to scarcity of resources.
Yes ok are not the only elements that contribute to a person becoming homeless are risk factors that if you do not have the appropriate support networks or the necessary treatment for certain diseases or psychopathologies, you can end up in this situation.
The psychological impact of homelessness
As a vulnerable group, it is made up of people who belong to other ways of classifying members of society: elderly people, people with alcoholism or drug addiction problems, immigrants, people with disabilities (both physical and intellectual), among others. . The main vulnerabilities which at the same time become consequences of this social phenomenon, are the following.
1. Invisibility
Most of society does not show interest in the homeless in most countries. They are seen, but not taken into account.
2. Propensity to present symptoms or develop a mental illness
Not having a roof over their heads alters their mental abilities, to the point of developing pathologies. The most common within this group are depression and schizophrenia in addition to alcoholism.
The homeless are exposed to any virus or bacteria and to extreme temperatures without the possibility of preventing diseases due to these agents or situations.
4. High risk of incarceration
The fact of not having a roof causes the homeless to be at risk of being arrested by police forces when carrying out all their activities in public areas, some of which are prohibited.
5. Propensity to use and abuse substances
Not having money for a decent meal many choose to consume toxic substances to stay free of hunger or in a state of “well-being” even if the situation demands the opposite.
6. Unemployment and limited opportunities to get one
The window of opportunity to get a job is drastically reduced.
7. Lack of formal education and school absenteeism
The fact that the parents are homeless, is related to a situation of vulnerability of their children due to lack of access to formal education.
8. Risk of accidents and premature death
Being exposed to diseases increases your chance of premature death. Furthermore, not being protected, not having a sense of direction, being alcoholic, drugged or having a mental illness increases the risk of having an accident.
What can be done to help these people?
The job of psychologists, social workers and interested people is to really reach this group, detect needs, propose strategies and implement action plans so that they can resume a dignified life, get a job and, if they have any illness, whether physical or mental, they can be treated. The fact that a person is homeless does not mean that his or her status in society has to be modified; He still has the same rights, and can lead a decent life with all that this implies.
