05/27/2026
Homelessness, which is usually accompanied by loss of income, isolation, and loss of self-worth, may drive people to use addictive substances to ease pain, quiet fears, and generally cope with the demands of living without a permanent home. It is often mistakenly assumed that people experiencing alcoholism and drug use lack moral principles or willpower and that they should simply choose to change their behavior. Recovering from addiction is difficult for housed people; it is even more difficult for people experiencing the additional trauma of homelessness.