The social causes of homelessness

The issue of homelessness has become a major problem in the United States. The emergence of the homelessness has propelled social researchers and policy-makers to search for the root causes of homelessness. Despite the numerous efforts to disclose the causes of homelessness, researchers have failed to accurately and consensually state the factors causing homelessness. The present study attempts to answer the following research question: What are the institutional risk factors that cause homelessness in Virginia, Maryland and Washington D.C. The study acknowledge four major causes of homelessness: economic conditions, lack of affordable housing, poverty, and the low level or reduction of entitlement benefits. Multiple regression analysis was employ. The findings of the attributes indicated that homelessness is a result of renter occupied housing units' value and owner occupied housing units' value. Renter occupied housing units' value is negatively related to homelessness, however owner occupied housing units is positively related to homelessness. The findings of this study can be use to explain homelessness in the sampled area.