by: Cheyanne Murdock
Think about homelessness for a second. Be honest with yourself, what comes to mind? Who do you picture? You might have a general idea shaped by what you’ve seen or heard, but chances are, it’s not the full story. Homelessness isn’t just about not having a place to sleep. It’s tied to so many other issues—health, food insecurity, education—and the reality is, many Americans are much closer to experiencing it than they realize.
Both a cause and an effect of homelessness is health problems—both physical and mental—can lead to homelessness, and once someone is unhoused, those problems often get worse. Accessing healthcare in the U.S. is tough enough when you have insurance, let alone when you don’t. Doctor’s visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays can be financially devastating. Without preventative care, minor health issues can spiral into major crises, landing people in emergency rooms and racking up bills they can’t afford. Chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, disabilities, and untreated mental health conditions make it even harder to find and keep a job.
Substance use disorders are often part of the picture, not necessarily as a cause of homelessness, but as a way of coping with trauma and mental illness. And even when people want treatment, the instability of being unhoused—having medications stolen, lacking refrigeration for prescriptions, or simply not being able to afford them—makes managing health nearly impossible. Without stable housing, good health is out of reach.
Not knowing where your next meal is coming from makes everything harder. Many people experiencing homelessness rely on food pantries and shelters, but those resources can be inconsistent. Poor nutrition leads to chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure, and for kids, it means developmental delays, behavioral struggles, and falling behind in school. Malnutrition affects focus and energy, making it tough to hold a job, which in turn makes it nearly impossible to afford housing. It’s a vicious cycle.
Education is one of the biggest predictors of financial stability, yet for many who experience homelessness, staying in school is a constant challenge. Kids in unstable housing situations miss school more often, struggle with their grades, and are more likely to drop out. Without a solid education, finding a job that pays a living wage becomes incredibly difficult. For adults, a lack of education means limited job prospects, making financial stability even harder to achieve.
A Smarter Investment: The city of Raleigh estimates that it costs around $35,000 a year in emergency services, healthcare, and law enforcement to support a single person experiencing homelessness. Now, consider this: providing stable housing and supportive services costs roughly $20,000 per person. That’s a potential savings of $15,000 per individual—and when you multiply that by the thousands of people experiencing homelessness in Wake County, the numbers speak for themselves.
Ending homelessness isn’t just about helping individuals and families; it’s about building a stronger, healthier, and more financially stable community for everyone. Housing is the building block that is needed in order to address all of these other symptoms people are experiencing – from substance use, health, education access, food security – give someone safe and affordable housing, and watch the rest of it be built up.
