When Did Homelessness Become a Social Problem?

By the 1850s, lodging rooms for vagrants located in police stations served as the major shelter system, and most major cities reported increasing numbers of vagabonds (Kusmer, 2002). After declining briefly after the Civil War, homelessness first became a national issue in the 1870s.

When did homelessness become a problem in LA?

By the 1980s, homelessness emerged as a chronic issue. There were many factors, including the federal government deciding to slash the budget for affordable housing.

How did homelessness become a social problem?

Key factors include; lack of adequate income, access to affordable housing and health supports and experiences of discrimination, and shifts in the economy that can leave people unable to pay their bills.