Why Are Most Homeless People Men?

Male Homelessness: the issue that no one is talking about. Male Homelessness: the issue that no one is talking about. | In this video, Dr. Shaym discusses interesting statistics about homelessness among men, and explains why more men than women are homeless. Load video

Unaffordable Housing and domestic violence are two major causes of homelessness. So it may be surprising that 7 out of 10 homeless people are men (✓1).

After all, homelessness due to unaffordable housing is a problem of money, at least in part.

As it goes with almost any good or service, if a particular demographic has more money to spend than another, then that demographic can get more of what is wanted. Just so long as the people who comprise that demographic are willing to pay the higher price, that demographic can have more of anything that money buys.

And money buys shelter.

The fact that more men than women are homeless, then, is surprising because men, on average, earn more than women (✓2). While income disparity among the genders may lessen as the days pass by, men in almost every society possess more power than women to pay for housing.

Given that unaffordable housing is the single greatest cause of homelessness, it is entirely logical to assume that most homeless people should be women.

But this is simply not the case.

Domestic violence, too, affects more women than men (✓3). It too causes the unfortunate to be homeless. Because domestic violence is experienced more by women than men, we would also be justified in assuming that women are more likely than men to be homeless.

But this is simply not the case.

Men represent an overwhelmingly greater proportion of the homeless than women.

Why?

Why are most homeless people men?

MEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO ACCEPT AND SEEK SERVICES

An interesting study a while ago found that "Homeless men in particular... have significantly higher rates of
mental illness than homeless women" (✓4).

To psychologists, that statistic may seem peculiar. For it is well known in the psychological community that females experience greater rates of mental illnesses than men.

What is going on?

Men are less likely to accept and seek help.

Men are less likely than women, for one, to accept and seek mental health services. This, perhaps, is due, at least in part, to an attempt by males to conform to societal masculine gender roles. As a result of lacking needed treatment, mentally ill men more often fall victim to homelessness.

What's more, because men are less likely to accept and seek help, men are less likely than women to accept and seek out social services geared towards helping regain housing.

Perhaps also motivated by a desire to conform to masculine gender roles, men decline more help from homeless outreach teams than women. Men are also less likely to seek help for getting out of homelessness.

So the reason why most homeless people are men is, at least partially, men are less likely than women to accept and seek help.

This is not the only reason, however.

OTHER REASONS WHY MOST HOMELESS PEOPLE ARE MEN

First, men are less social than women. They are less likely to have strong support networks to aid in preventing and getting out of homelessness.

Next, many homeless people are veterans. About a quarter of all homeless people served the country (✓5). 97% of homeless veterans are male (✓5). So most homeless people are men, in part, as well, because one in four of them are veterans.

Men, in addition, have fewer barriers to remaining homeless than women. As compared to the feminine gender, men often feel more safe sleeping outdoors alone. Men worry less about being sexually assaulted, about being victimized by other people on the streets. As a result, men have less averse experiences compelling them to regain housing.

Finally, men are less likely to be primary caretakers of children. Because of this, most single parents who become homeless are women. Women with children get housing assistance sooner. The reason is we prioritize getting children off the streets. So men are less likely to obtain immediate housing because more women are more likely to become homeless with children.

SUMMARY

The most significant reason why most homeless people are men is men are less likely than women to accept and seek services related to regaining housing.

Other reasons include men have fewer social support networks than women, many homeless people are veterans, men have fewer barriers than women to remain homeless, and women are more likely to be prioritized for housing.

so the next time you see a homeless camp...

and you realize that most of them are male, think, "masculine gender roles and societal values" as reasons why they are.