Why are there so many more homeless men than women?

MurchaMarcha · 2021-07-30T04:13:58+00:00

Men are way more likely to have engaged in crime and abused drugs, 2 big factors for homelessness.

Women are less visibly homeless because it's extremely unsafe to be a homeless woman. You're at risk of rape especially from homeless men, and it's not safe to camp where there are homeless men/go to shelters where there are extremely abusive homeless men. Your top priority is making yourself scarce and invisible to men.

Homeless women are almost always targeted for sex trafficking too, so they usually won't be out on the street...

WagonsIntenseSpeed · 2021-07-30T05:22:46+00:00

Homeless women are more invisible. They may not have stable housing, but they'll usually do everything in their power to stay hidden. They'll couch surf with friends or relatives, some will endure abuse at homeless shelters for some time, some even exchange sexual services with sleazy men for a place to stay. The worst thing a homeless woman can experience is life on the streets. They absolutely will experience all forms of sexual assault.

LR_today · 2021-07-30T03:28:29+00:00

Men will not follow the simple rules of a shelter.

Women will stay in trauma situations to keep a roof over their heads.

rainbowshummingbird · 2021-07-30T02:53:51+00:00

Men are more likely to be alcoholic than women. Men are more likely to abuse all types of elicit drugs than women. Men are more violent and more likely to have been incarcerated than women.

overachiever856 · 2021-07-30T06:24:15+00:00

I'm not sure it's true. I'm in Australia and the biggest demographic at risk of homelessness are women over 55. Having been sahm and then divorced by husbands looking for a newer, younger woman to marry.

Homeless women suffer extreme abuse. It doesnt surprise me that you saw more men, women are probably hiding and too scared to be seen by other homeless men who may present a threat once the food trucks go home.

Any_Indication_2754 · 2021-07-30T03:43:34+00:00

Because the normally homeless women live in homes with their pimps and other sex workers. Plus a lot of homeless men are veterans and there are more male veterans than female.

_queeeen_ · 2021-07-30T07:09:43+00:00

It’s incredibly dangerous to be homeless as a woman. I think women living on the brink go to greater lengths and make bigger trade offs (like prostitution) that men don’t have to make.

OrangeyPanda · 2021-07-30T03:08:28+00:00

There are documentaries on this. When homeless men are asked why they don't go to the shelters the men say that it's funner camping outside with the other homeless men because there are no rules and they are free to use their drugs and chill. Women don't have this privilege as it's almost a 100% guarantee that homeless women get raped or sexually assaulted while living on the street, it can never be fun or chill for women.

ASeaOfQuotes · 2021-07-30T02:49:50+00:00

It’s a combination of factors: 1. Women are more likely to sustain strong familial relationships, therefore less likely to end up homeless in the first place. 2. Women with children are first in line for many benefits and assistance programs, and rightly so as many are fleeing from domestic abuse situations, or coming from prior lengthy unemployment situations, and are struggling to care for their families. 3. Transient women often resort to sex work in order to sustain a small income, meaning money for hotels, or staying with John’s overnight. 4. Women have less reported drug use, and many drug and alcohol addictions gateway into homelessness with continued abuse.

There are a few studies about differences in male and female populations regarding homelessness online. That’s not to say there are not clearly incidences where services can be improved for men, but unfortunately I think a stigma has developed around many services because a lot of men do not follow through with programs, or abstinence from their addictions.

Vmwvi · 2021-07-30T02:45:17+00:00

Because the women are rightfully afraid of being assaulted by the men at the homeless shelters and because women get prostituted by pimps targeting vulnerable women or trafficked or killed by the men. It's also why you see less homeless women; they have to hide much better to survive. Where a man could just sit on some random park bench to beg, a woman would have to check escape routes, scan the area for threats and even then they're still at risk. Men are also more likely to be "professional beggars" men who prey on the kindness of others and beat up people if they refuse to give them money despite the fact that they are not at all in need and could easily support themselves. These men are also not above using the shelters and taking resources away from people in need which is part of why you'd see more of them. In worse parts of the world sometimes children are kidnapped and mutilated to be used in these begging schemes and they are normally run by men.

Pornruinedsociety · 2021-07-30T07:03:25+00:00

My ex made me out to be evil when I 'kicked him out', although technically I didn't kick him out, I was leaving the place we rented, I'd rented it years before he moved in and I said fine stay, I can ask the landlord to put it in your name and you can take over all the utilities, he quickly changed his tune. His parents had a spacious house in a village they weren't living in, that he could go to at anytime. In fact he threatened me when I suggested him getting a job when self employment wasn't bringing in much money, he said if you don't let me do what I want I'll go back there. He never became homeless, but he made out like I was some evil person making him homeless, if I don't wish to live with a porn addict who deceived me about his sexuality, because my health is being effected terribly by it, then that's my rightful choice.

The reason I'm saying this is because men often bring this argument up about women kicking men out and making them homeless, often this is exaggerated by some men and they don't know or leave out other facts, such as the man's addiction and the detrenental and often disasterous consequences on the women and children if they have any.

Edit Also in the UK I'm sure I read the council is under obligation to house people who come to them declaring they are homeless, even if it's in an hotel. If councils are turning people away, they should not being doing that in most cases, from what I read. There was a woman on the news who was sleeping under a bridge during the first lockdown, because she lost her job and her landlord evicted her. If you ever find yourself in this unfortunate situation, male or female, go to the council and remind them they are obliged to find you a safe place to stay. I read if they still refuse you can obtain a solicitors letter and they can't refuse, don't know if anyone else knows more about the law surrounding this? As for the chronically homeless people I see in town, they appear to have mental health problems and addictions, I have have friend who used to work with care leavers and she said one who she knew who became homeless did get a house, but couldn't cope and chose to go back on the streets.

Also these articles highlight the problems for homeless women, even in shelters...

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/mar/07/homeless-services-failing-women-st-mungos

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/woman-raped-homeless-shelter-campaigners-19065205.amp

Some people chose addiction over shelter and or are unable/unwilling to meet the conditions to get help and aren't ready to want to change and perhaps that stems from mental health problems they never had support for, then you have people who want help but can't get it or accept help and are further traumatized. The government does need to do more to tackle the cost of living, housing crisis and mental health and have separate shelters for men and women. It's always good to keep an emergency fund if possible, I try to save instead and make sacrifices to save money incase I ever lose my job.

FDSGYARU · 2021-07-30T09:30:59+00:00

In Japanese newspapers it says that the number one reason of homelessness in Japan is loss of a spouse. Either by death or divorce. Some men have no idea how to do anything by themselves since they go from cradle to grave being taken care of by women.

InaneObservations · 2021-07-30T03:21:46+00:00

Because women in those circumstances end up dead.

Muffcakelord · 2021-07-30T11:43:32+00:00

The homeless women can't be out and about as much. They choose for example rape for free rent, or they seek shelters, because they would be destroyed if they were to be outside with the homeless men.

Men like to point to this statistic to prove female privilege but it only goes to show how women don't even have the privilege of being on the street. They risk so much more if they do.

crossiantfun · 2021-07-30T02:59:39+00:00

It could be that you just don’t see them. One of my friends organization works with helping homeless children access school. They struggle even finding the girls because they hide from the public for their own safety. It’s too vulnerable to be a homeless girl/woman.

letsberealforamoment · 2021-07-30T05:09:32+00:00

Because men are more prone to violent, anti socisl behavior, sexual deviance, addictions, and acts of destruction.

A consequence of the above is prison and homelessness. And i dont feel a bit sorry for them.

blackmetalbetty · 2021-07-30T03:10:16+00:00

They (homeless men)think they're above certain jobs and assistance/resources. Alot of women ask for help and are in touch with intuition that allows them to know who they can ask (people who don't want disgusting favors back).
Women produce more detail oriented and presentable work.
Women have more of an I owe you sort of guilt as they traverse through life. If I were crashing at at friends place that shielded me from homelessness, I'd have a guilty fire under my ass to always be helping or supplementing the friend (doing laundry, helping with meals, paying what I could after finding a job, cleaning up, etc). Dudes are more liable to get comfortable and housing them becomes thankless (sometimes violent, when it comes to evicting them).
Women are more reluctant to remain in conditions that would have them filthy, vulnerable, exposed to the elements. There used to be a Yt channel called soft white underbelly that would feature the stories of alot of unfortunate people, alot of them women who had to survive homelessness, often turning to prostitution. I'd rather throw together my ID documents, resume, and an interview ensemble than to menstruate in an alleyway with no sanitation products or dignity or wake up to some depraved man and his friends pissing/getting off on me.
Dudes are more likely to have the 'wherever I am is home, I'm just a rolling stone' mentality and settle for a simple life. Women aren't the ones always talking about 'getting in the studio', and having delusions of grandeur. The only thing that talks in this civilization is money, you earn it (most likely from a 9-5 menial job) so you don't have to sleep on the street.
We have more access to these feelings called 'shame' and 'guilt' for every little moment or interaction we etch out on this earth. In college, I once completed a multiple choice test with a nub of kohl eyeliner I found in my bookbag because I didn't want to 'beg' a classmate for a writing implement.
Probably more I'm forgetting.

idiosyncraticg1 · 2021-07-30T15:45:51+00:00

There was a top post on Reddit about this a few days ago. While there are naturally less homeless women in general because men are more prone to alcoholism etc, It’s because homeless women are quickly recruited into prostitution or other sex gigs, so it seems that the proportion is extremely small.

Barkingatthemoon · 2021-07-30T02:44:32+00:00

In terms of schizophrenia ( lots of these homeless people are schizophrenic , at least the permanent ones ) females and males behave differently. Because of that women are more accepted by their family ; they also have a later onset of symptoms than men , so they have time to build some form of support . That’s probably just one single aspect , but I thought I’d highlight it .

Elegaunt · 2021-07-30T18:36:38+00:00

Men have the worse criminal records and higher rates of drug use and are less likely to get jobs with such a record, therefor more likely to be visibly homeless.

But also there are multiple discreet women's shelters in most cities. At least one in most smaller towns. They look like houses or any other buildings with the exception of having security gates and cameras, and perhaps larger parking lots that usual. There are meant to be unlabeled and unnoticed as to hide women and prevent them from being found by abusive or controlling exes. Colloquially called 'battered womens shelters' but they take in women/mothers and children escaping abuse or exploitation.

veruscka · 2021-07-30T14:04:06+00:00

I live in a city with a high homeless population and I just realized how every woman I know has a story about an uncomfortable interaction with a homeless man where they felt scared/threatened but I’ve never heard of a man feeing threatened by a homeless woman

dollymyfolly · 2021-07-30T12:56:05+00:00

I hate to put this spin but maybe because it’s so much more dangerous for homeless women. Perhaps the mortality rate is higher for them than for men. 😔

mamadgaf · 2021-07-30T16:35:42+00:00

Men are more likely to turn to drugs and alcohol to deal with trauma because they were raised to ignore their emotions and mental health.

2021-07-30T09:17:28+00:00

[permanently deleted]

Title	Why are there so many more homeless men than women?
Author	krba201076
Upvotes	238
Comments	37
Date	July 29, 2021 10:12 PM UTC (4 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/FemaleDatingStrategy
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/comments/ou7lk1/why_are_there_so_many_more_homeless_men_than_women/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/FemaleDatingStrategy/why-are-there-so-many-more-homeless-men-than-women.795912 https://theredarchive.com/post/795912

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