Myths About Homelessness

Homelessness is not a problem here.

On January 27, 2005, 1,753 people were found living in shelters, on the street or in other places not intended for human habitation. This number does not include the significant number of homeless people living in cars, motels or doubled-up with family.

Homelessness is a choice—homeless people could get help if they wanted it.

The demand for housing assistance is so high in the metro area that the Columbia Housing Authority only opens the waiting list every two or three years. There are currently over 4000 people on the Section 8 waiting list in this region. The high cost of establishing housing (security deposits, first and last months’ rent and furnishings), inadequate public transportation, and for some a history of poverty or personal problems (poor credit, poor housing histories, arrest records) can make it impossible to emerge from homelessness.

Homeless people just don’t want to work.

On any given night at the Holtz Winter shelter, 40% of the guests were employed. However, since an individual would have to earn $12.02 an hour to afford an apartment in the Midlands, many working people simply cannot afford housing.

All homeless people have a mental illness or are addicted.

Approximately 22% of homeless people are mentallyill and about 30% have a substance abuse problem.1 About 10-20 of these individuals suffer from both mental illness and substance abuse disorders.2

Most homeless people are single men.

Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population.1 Families make up as much as 33% percent of the homeless population.1 Studies indicate that in rural areas, families make up the majority of the homeless population.10

Homeless people are criminals

Homeless people actually commit less crime than housed people.11 Although homeless individuals often have frequent contact with law enforcement it is usually due to minor offenses such as disturbing the peace.12 In fact, homeless individuals are more likely to be victims of crime.11

Homeless people are taking advantage of the system.

A relatively small percentage of homeless people receive government assistance. Over 40% of homeless persons are eligible for disability benefits, however only 11% actually receive them. 3 When individuals do receive benefits, they rarely receive enough to afford housing. The current maximum TANF benefit for a single mother of two is 29% below federal poverty level.4 In 1998 a person on SSI had to spend an average of 69% of their monthly income just to rent a one bedroom apartment.5

The homeless people here came here from somewhere else.

70% of the individuals interviewed in the 2005 count were from the Midlands and 75% were living here when they first became homeless.

If we create more services for the homeless, it will attract more homeless people to the Midlands

Studies have shown that homeless people do not migrate to an area for services.6 A recent study found that 75% of homeless people are still living in the city in which they became homeless.7

Most homeless people live on the streets.

Many people in homeless situations have to live with relatives and friends in crowded, temporary arrangements. Unfortunately, these individuals are often left out of the homeless counts because of the strict federal definition for homelessness. A study by the US Department of Education in 2000 found that 34% of homeless youth lived doubled-up with family or friends and another 23% lived in motels or other locations.8 In addition, there are a number of “hidden homeless” who sleep in their cars or stay at campgrounds so that they can hide the fact that they are homeless.9

Rural areas don’t have a homelessness problem.

Estimates of the rural homeless vary from 6.9 percent to 18 percent of the total homeless population.13, 14 Research shows that the odds of being poor are between 1.2 and 2.3 times higher for people in rural areas as compared to urban areas.15 People experiencing homelessness in rural areas are less likely to live on the street or in a shelter, and more likely to live with relatives in overcrowded or substandard housing.16