Question

Though most people first think of an unclean and unshaven man (51% of the homeless population) as "the face of the homeless," other groups including families with children (30%), single women (17%), and unaccompanied minors (2%) also suffer from homelessness. Why do you feel that these other groups do not get as much attention as homeless men?

Answer 1

It is an unconscious bias. Most of the people think that the homeless individuals are poor and they do not have ability to present themselves with neat and clean appearance. They think that homeless people are mentally retarded or they are very poor people. Therefore by seeing their face most of the people think that the person is homeless. Thye generally think that homeless people are unclean and they do not belong to a particular society.

Most of the people also believe that those who have families are not homeless. Therefore they do not think that individuals with family and children should have some responsibilities and this should not be homeless. again the society is not so much careful to the single woman and in some community it is really a disgraceful matter to be a single woman. Therefore the society never thinks whether single women are with shelter or without shelter. besides most of the people are so busy in their daily activities that they do not have proper time to think on this issue. Therefore they answer what comes in their mind without thinking what would be the proper reliable answer.