Promotional Feature
10 Myths About
the Homeless
Not lazy. Not criminals. Not freeloaders. Matthew’s Hope debunks the most persistent myths about homelessness and what it really takes to help people rebuild their lives.
1. Homeless people choose to live that way.
That is ridiculous. Forty years ago, when I myself was homeless, along with over 20 years working with the homeless, I have never met any who chose to be that way. It wasn’t in the Plan. Some have chosen to remain homeless as society has made it almost impossible to crawl out of.
2. They’re all criminals.
In truth, a homeless person is more likely to be a victim than a perpetrator. They are so vulnerable. Any laws they break are typically crimes of need.
3. They’re addicts and alcoholics
Most often addiction is not the path to homelessness. Though addiction is often a byproduct of homelessness. A homeless person with mental health issues may turn to self-medicating, not understanding their mental illness or when they simply cannot get the help they need.
4. They can work. They’re just lazy.
A person may look fine on the outside, and able-bodied for work. But they’re not able-minded. And you can’t see that from the outside. Or, people often assume they’re high or drunk, because mental illness can look like that.
5. They’re unemployed.
On the contrary, many are employed, doing the jobs none of us want to do—cleaning bars or businesses overnight, doing security work. They’re working out of sight, in the overnight hours, where the jobs are easier to get.
6. They’re uneducated.
Actually, many homeless are very educated. We have had NASA engineers, teachers, nurses, and other very educated people come through our doors. With government cutbacks, businesses downsizing, and physical impairments and/or mental health issues, they simply can no longer work to even function in day to day life. Some are getting older and aging out of the job market.
7. They’re dirty.
Of course they’re dirty. They have little to no access to showers, toilets, washing machines, sinks, personal hygiene we all take for granted.
8. Homeless people refuse to take advantage of available resources.
Sadly, fewer resources are available than people believe. Shelters in Central Florida have been at capacity for 15 years straight and they are not free, either. Beds, when available, average about $7 a night.
9. They’re mentally ill.
Most are not mentally ill. Those who are often stand out because they look drunk or high. That said, if you didn’t have a mental health issue before, you will after you become homeless.
10. Homeless people are freeloaders.
People can live in poverty for decades. They learn how to work the system and it becomes a lifestyle. Homelessness is a much greater fall than poverty and often comes from a sudden loss. Loss of a child is a big one. Loss of a spouse. For men, especially, it’s loss of a job.”
Facing Facts
Breaking the cycle starts with smarter solutions. Incarceration isn’t the answer: a Seminole County Sheriff study found one person in jail costs $45,000–$55,000 per year—while providing housing and needed services costs half that.
Education is key. Homelessness is rarely the fault of the individual; it’s often the result of trauma or loss. Media coverage can reinforce myths—stories should identify perpetrators, not label the homeless.
Matthew’s Hope serves over 1,100 people weekly. Of its $15 million budget, only 6.2% comes from taxpayer dollars. Scott Billue says, “The goal is always to move people towards a life of independence and self-sufficiency. Currently, one man is in HVAC training, two in plumbing, and two in electrical.”
With shelter increasingly scarce, Matthew’s Hope brought mobility to its services with sleeper buses. “Each bus sleeps twenty in real beds with coil spring mattresses,” Scott says. “Brevard County already has three, and we just got approval for our first in Orange County.”
Scott continues: “It’s time we see homelessness for the tragic circumstance that it is, and concentrate our energies on looking for solutions. These are not a bunch of lazy freeloaders, criminals, addicts, unemployed and uneducated people trying to game the system. They are symptoms of a problem we can all help to solve together. Time to quit treating symptoms and begin understanding and addressing causes.”
