Myths and facts
Addiction and Mental Health PDF Print E-mail

Myth: All homeless people are mentally ill or substance abusers.

Fact: Around a quarter of homeless people are mentally ill, and about 40% are alcohol or substance abusers, with around 15% suffering both disabilities.
 
Employment PDF Print E-mail
Myth: Homeless people don't work and get most of their money from public assistance programs.
Fact: Homeless people do work, and a relatively small percentage of them receive government assistance.
 
Homeless Population Demographics PDF Print E-mail
Myth: Homeless people are mostly single men.
Fact: Families constitute a large and growing percentage of the homeless population.
 
The Chronic Theory PDF Print E-mail

Myth: Homeless people are a fixed population who are usually homeless for long periods of time.

Fact: The homeless population is quite diverse in terms of their length of homelessness and the number of times they cycle in and out of homelessness.
 
The Magnet Theory PDF Print E-mail

Myth: Setting up services for homeless people will cause homeless people from all around to migrate to a city.

Fact: Studies have shown that homeless people do not migrate for services. To the extent they do move to new areas, it is because they are searching for work, have family in the area, or other reasons not related to services.
 


FAQs

Why can’t the city do more to provide housing for everyone?
There is a great need for affordable housing for D.C. residents with low incomes. At least 52,000 households, including many homeless families, are on the public housing waiting list. In fact, the District is ranked third worst among all states with regard to housing affordability. Buildings that were once affordable are regularly converted into luxury condos and rentals. In the past four years, at least 12,000 affordable housing units have disappeared from the market.