They curl up on doorstops, push carts overflowing with plastic bags, and hustle handouts. These are just a few of those known as street people. Surprisingly, street people are as diverse as any other population and many of them can be categorized according to how they came to live on the street.

Runaways

Teens and young adults who run away from home often find themselves on the street. Coerced into prostitution, selling drugs, and petty theft, by predatory types, these youngsters often live day to day, depending on the bad habits and carelessness of others for food money. Generally speaking, teens and young adults are healthy and resilient enough to recover, finding homes and jobs on their own or with minimal support or intervention.

Military veterans

Fully 40% of America’s homeless population are military veterans. Faced with overwhelming experiences, returning home to an unappreciative nation, and uncared for by the agencies that sent them to war in the first place, many veterans are unable to cope with normalcy. Addictions and post-traumatic stress contribute to the likelihood of homelessness for our nation’s veterans, and it is a sad reflection on our society.

The un-institutionalized

In the 1960’s and 70’s, tens of thousands of mental patients were discharged and left to fend for themselves. Without the skills or capabilities needed to acquire and retain jobs, many of these individuals ended up living hand to mouth on the streets. This is an unfortunate example of government legislation gone wrong.

Addicts

Many street people suffer the ravages of addiction to alcohol and/or drugs. Very often, it was the addiction that led to living on the street, after everything is lost to buying drugs or staying drunk. Succumbing to addiction, these street people center their existence around their next drink or high, foregoing everything else.

Victims of disaster & abuse

Natural disasters frequently cause homelessness for families. Whether through flooding, fire, earthquake, or massive storm, the homes of these people are destroyed, leaving them to live on the street until they are able to garner family or governmental support. Also, victims of domestic violence and abuse often find themselves without a place to live, as a means to get away from their abuser. 

The elderly

In some sad cases, senior citizens who are without family, friends, or funds, are left with no other option but to live on the street. Suffering depression, loneliness, and exposure, the elderly street person is far more likely to die alone, unless they receive aid from social service agencies.

Professionals

Professional street people have learned how to make begging for handouts into a relatively lucrative career. Most of them are not actually living on the street. Sipping a Starbucks coffee, iPod ear buds in place, they stand at intersections with cardboard signs, claiming disaster, illness, or pregnancy to prey on the generosity of others.

Those in transition

A small number of street people are temporarily there by choice, to make a new life for themselves. A person may leave everything behind and travel to a new area for a fresh start, in search of a job opportunity, or simply to live somewhere else. Generally, these street people are young, healthy, and educated. They live on the street with a specific goal in mind and normally have regular jobs.

Gypsies

Gypsies are as much a part of society as they were 500 years ago. Today’s gypsies often work carnivals, rodeos, and other traveling events that allow them the freedom they crave, while still earning a living. This group of street people also includes traveling mechanics, artists, musicians and tradesmen who see no need for an actual home.

Vagabonds

Vagabonds are a breed all their own. These individuals often choose to live on the street for the freedom it offers. No bills, no obligations, and no responsibilities, except to themselves, they enjoy the freedom to wander, interact, and explore, making the little money they need as they travel.

Street people are often seen as the unwashed, under-fed, slightly addled individuals who wander the streets, or curl up over heat vents, but this generalization fails to take into account the vast diversity of this population. The failure of our society to address the issues of addiction, mental illness, and post-traumatic stress leave many individuals to suffer the ravages of various types of neglect and exposure, living on the street. At the same time, it speaks well of our society that those who choose to do so, are able to live on the street in relative safety, when compared to other nations.