When most people hear the term "homeless" they understand that it means a person living without a home. Did you know there are different types of homelessness?
Types of Homelessness
Did you know there are different types of homelessness? 4 to be exact. When we bring a new client into our shelter, it is important to understand their history. A large part of this is understanding where they came from and what type of homelessness the individual faces. Take a look below as we review the 4 types of homelessness.
Transitional Homelessness
This is the most common type of homelessness. Transitional homelessness is "a state of homelessness that's a result of a major life change or catastrophic event". Transitional homelessness occurs due to significant life changes or catastrophic events, such as job loss, health issues, divorce, domestic abuse, substance use disorders, or personal and family crises. Typically, those experiencing transitional homelessness are without a stable home for less than a year.
Individuals facing transitional homelessness might enter temporary housing programs or resort to sleeping in their cars or outdoors. Often, they still hold jobs but can't afford housing and other essential expenses.
Younger individuals are disproportionately affected by transitional homelessness. Youth often face harassment and discrimination when seeking alternative housing, making them more vulnerable. Unlike older individuals, young people experiencing homelessness are often referred to as the "invisible homeless" because they tend not to access services, making statistical data on them scarce. Their initial signs of homelessness might include couch surfing or staying with friends, which is less noticeable than sleeping on the streets. Approximately 8% of the homeless population consists of youth or young adults, with around 550,000 people under 24 and 380,000 under 18 experiencing homelessness annually.
Episodic Homelessness
An individual who is episodic homelessness is characterized by being currently unhoused or having at least three periods of homelessness within the last 12 months. In contrast, "chronic homelessness" typically involves four or more episodes of homelessness within a calendar year.
Similar to transitional homelessness, many individuals facing episodic homelessness are younger or dealing with disabling conditions such as substance use disorders, mental illness, or other mental and physical health issues. Some episodically unhoused individuals hold seasonal or minimum-wage jobs.
Without adequate resources and support, episodic homelessness can escalate into chronic homelessness.
Chronic Homelessness
A person experiencing chronic homelessness is defined as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition" who has been homeless for more than one year. Those facing chronic homelessness often grapple with disabilities, mental health conditions, addictions, and other debilitating issues that hinder their ability to escape homelessness.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, chronically homeless individuals tend to be older and make up about 17% of the homeless population. Many of these individuals have complex, long-term health issues and live in unsafe or unsuitable places such as streets, parks, cars, and other non-residential areas.
Hidden Homelessness
The fourth type of homelessness is known as "hidden homelessness."
Individuals who temporarily live with others without a permanent home are considered "hidden homeless" because their situation often goes unnoticed. Lacking access to housing support resources and not being identified in national statistics, they remain 'hidden' from the broader picture of homelessness.
People experiencing hidden homelessness often rely on friends, family, and neighbors for shelter or refuge. Many cannot afford to pay rent or cover other living expenses.
A significant portion of the hidden homeless population consists of younger individuals who have faced sudden catastrophic life changes, trauma, or other challenges. Youth experiencing hidden homelessness often face harassment and discrimination when seeking alternative housing, contributing to their disproportionately high rate of homelessness. Compared to older individuals, young people are often considered "invisible homeless," as they rarely access services, making statistics about them scarce. Their first signs of homelessness may include couch surfing or staying with friends, which is perceived as less severe and less obvious than sleeping on the street.
Causes of Homelessness
Now that we know the types of homelessness, let's take a deeper look into what can cause homelessness.
Lack of Available and/or Affordable Housing
The nation is currently grappling with one of the most severe affordable housing crises in history, with those living in poverty being the most significantly affected.
Across the country, the cost of rental housing far exceeds the wages earned by low-income renter households. For instance, a full-time worker needs to earn an average of $25.82 per hour to afford a modest two-bedroom rental and $21.21 per hour for a one-bedroom rental (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2022). However, the national minimum wage is only $7.25 per hour.
Housing is not only out of reach for minimum wage earners. The 2022 housing wage is significantly higher than the median hourly rates earned by many workers, including customer service representatives ($17.75), nursing assistants ($14.57), maintenance and repair workers ($20.76), home health aides ($14.15), retail workers ($14.03), and numerous others in the workforce.
Today, 11 million extremely low-income households pay at least half of their income toward housing, putting them at risk of housing instability and homelessness.
Health
An acute physical or behavioral health crisis or any long-term disabling condition can lead to homelessness, and homelessness itself can worsen chronic medical conditions. A person can become chronically homeless when their health condition becomes disabling, making it too difficult to maintain stable housing without assistance.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, people living in shelters are more than twice as likely to have a disability compared to the general population. On a given night in 2023, 31 percent of the homeless population reported having a serious mental illness, 24 percent had conditions related to chronic substance abuse, and nearly 11,000 people had HIV/AIDS.
Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and HIV/AIDS are found at high rates among the homeless population, sometimes three to six times higher than in the general population.
Individuals who are homeless and have mental health or substance use disorders are more likely to have immediate, life-threatening physical illnesses and live in dangerous conditions. Additionally, more than 10 percent of people seeking substance abuse or mental health treatment in the public health system are homeless.
The issue of opioid abuse has risen to a national crisis level, with the number of people abusing prescription drugs and heroin dramatically increasing and the rate of opioid-related overdose deaths quadrupling since 2010. While the epidemic affects people of all races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses, its impact is particularly harmful to those experiencing homelessness. Substance use disorders are significant risk factors for homelessness, and substance abuse and overdose disproportionately affect homeless individuals.
Escaping Violence
Experiencing domestic violence is a common cause of homelessness among youth, single adults, and families. For many, it is the immediate trigger for their homelessness. Survivors of domestic violence often turn to homeless service programs for a safe temporary place to stay after fleeing an abusive relationship. Others seek these programs primarily because they lack the economic resources to secure or maintain housing after leaving an abusive partner.
In 2023, about 10.4% of all Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing, and Safe Haven beds in homeless service systems were designated for survivors of domestic violence and their families.
What Does Stepping Stones Do To Help?
At Stepping Stones, we believe all people have the right to nutritious food, adequate housing, and other needed support services. Through our shelter program and our community connections program, we are able to provide emergency shelter and help individuals find and maintain stable housing.
Emergency Shelter
Stepping Stones has three fully-furnished shelters - two homes with a combined 5 apartments for families, and the Cairn House, a 20-bed shelter for individuals. During their stay, generally 6-8 weeks, residents work closely with shelter staff to:
Secure permanent and affordable housing
Find or maintain employment
Pursue educational goals
Access resources to become self-sufficient
As funds are available, Stepping Stones provides housing assistance for rent and security deposits as well as referrals to low-income housing options.
Homelessness Prevention Program
The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) is a state program that can help households who are at risk of homelessness regain stability in their current housing, or move into other permanent housing, through a combination of rental assistance and supportive services.
101 Classes
Our Shelter Manager runs several classes, both at our shelter and the Dunn County Jail, to learn and understand skills not often covered. Classes offered:
Adulting - This is a 10-12 part course that goes over many topics including developing friendships, mental wellness, when to seek medical care, how to keep housing, car maintenance, and so much more.
Housing - This class focuses on the struggles people face finding and maintaining housing. It also includes sections on evictions, programs, and services people may qualify for, and much more.
Relationships- This is an 8-part class designed to look at relationships with ourselves and relationships with others. We address common topics of self-love, deal breakers, communication, codependency, divorce, and so much more.
How You can Help
Volunteer
Our volunteers are vital to Stepping Stones day-to-day operations - we would not be able to accomplish our vision without their hard work. Volunteering is a great way to strengthen our community and we are always looking for more people!
Donate (Financially)
Stepping Stones relies on many stakeholders to accomplish its work. It is most financially stable when many people offer support by giving what they can.
With the ability to give online at Stepping Stones, you can do a one-time gift or set up an automatic monthly donation if you wish. Contributions in honor of a special occasion or an individual, or given as a memorial are welcome and are recognized in our seasonal newsletter.
All contributions are tax-deductible. Stepping Stones is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
How To Donate
You may mail in or drop off a cash or check donation. A receipt will be given to you at the time of the donation (or will be mailed back).
Mailing Address:
Stepping Stones
1602 Stout Rd
Menomonie, WI 54751
OR
Donate (Supplies)
For all donations please make sure that the packaging is still intact and the item is in good quality. This means that there are no large dents, or cracks, the package is unopened and produce is fresh and clean. If you wouldn't use it or eat it, please don't expect others to do so!
We accept most shelf-stable food items, fresh produce, and fresh or frozen meat that has been purchased from a grocery store or licensed meat processor.
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