Homelessness continues to be a growing problem in society today. To many members of the general population, however, the homeless citizens are considered outcasts and pariahs. They are accused of having brought this situation upon themselves, because of their laziness or drug abuse habits.
             This paper argues that there are a myriad of social problems that contribute to homelessness, and that many of these problems are rooted in the structures of society. This paper focuses on three major reasons – poverty and economic reasons, mental deficiencies and "trigger" factors that place one in a vulnerable position. These factors combined, rather than personal failings or substance abuse, account for majority of the homeless cases in the United States.
             Any long-term solutions to the problem of homelessness must therefore go beyond treating the symptoms, such as drug abuse. Rather, a program to eradicate homelessness must also focus on the systemic reasons that contribute to the problem in the first place.
             To many people, the image of a homeless person evokes a lazy bum spending his days under a bridge in a drunken stupor. However, statistics show that the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population is comprised by young single mothers. These young mothers are often unemployed and receive little or no child support from the child's father. They are less likely to have completed high school (Nunez 2001). These factors combined make it difficult for a young woman to secure employment that earns enough for childcare needs and rent.
             To further challenge stereotypes regarding the "lazy" homeless, studies have shown that up to 15 percent of the homeless population is employed. This population is referred to as the "working homeless," people who work but could not afford to scrape together the deposits required for apartments, much less the down payment on a house.
             Forty percent of those who are...