• Homelessness can be caused by a number of factors.homeless woman image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com
  
  Homelessness is a condition in which an individual lacks an acceptable form of shelter. Although some people are chronically homeless, meaning that their condition persists for an extended period of time (usually more than a year), many more find themselves temporarily homeless, caught without a place for a shorter period of time. Individuals can become homeless for a variety of reasons, sometimes acting in combination with each other.
  
  

Addiction and Mental Illness

• Mental illness and substance abuse addiction can often prevent individuals from taking the steps necessary to secure appropriate housing, including holding a steady job. According to a survey by the US Conference of Mayors, approximately 22 percent of single homeless adults suffer from a severe and persistent mental illness. While statistics about addiction as a cause of homelessness are less certain, according to the Seattle-based Committee to End Homelessness, addiction plays a role in the situation of many chronically homeless individuals.
  
  

Unemployment

• One of the most direct causes of unemployment is the lack of a stable job. According to the Committee To End Homelessness, half of homeless adults make less than than $300 per month. Unemployment can itself be caused by a number of factors, including a lack of jobs, a lack of marketable job skills and a lack of the resources necessary to secure and maintain steady work.
  
  

Domestic Violence

• According to the Homelessness Resource Center, domestic violence is one of the main contributors to homelessness, with many homeless people turning to the streets to flee a violent home life. According to the homeless services agency Camillus House, domestic violence is the second leading cause of homelessness among women. However, domestic violence can also contribute to homelessness among children who suffer from physical, psychological or sexual abuse, as well as among abused elderly and handicapped.
  
  

High Cost of Housing

• Many individuals and families become homeless because they simply lack the money to afford a suitable residence. According to Camillus House, in 1995, there were 4.4 million fewer available units of low-income housing than households in need of such residences. In a survey by the US Conference of Mayors of 25 major US cities, the surveyed cities cited unaffordable housing as the leading cause of homeless among families.
  
  

Injury and Illness

• Physical illnesses can also cause individuals and families to fall into homelessness. When a wage earner is unable to work, an entire family can suffer due to the loss of income. For those without health insurance or who acquire conditions not covered by their plan, medical bills can also push them into severe debt and sometimes homelessness.