by Jayden T., HSM Intern
When many people think about homelessness, they picture poor choices or lack of effort. But the truth is often very different. At Hope Squad Maine, we meet people every week whose lives changed because of circumstances they never expected, circumstances that could happen to almost anyone.
Homelessness is not just a statistic. It is a grandmother who can’t afford her rent, a parent escaping violence, a worker recovering from injury, or a person struggling to find mental health care.
Across Maine, the number of people experiencing homelessness has grown significantly in recent years. Statewide counts show that more than 2,400 people in Maine were experiencing homelessness on a single night, and service providers believe the real number is likely higher because many people stay in cars, couch-surf, or remain hidden from official counts. These numbers represent real people.
Myth #1: People become unhoused because they didn’t plan ahead or didn’t work hard.
Reality: Many seniors in Maine worked their entire lives, paid taxes, raised families, and contributed to their communities. Now, they rely on fixed incomes such as Social Security. As rent, food, and heating costs rise, especially during Maine winters and those fixed incomes often cannot keep up.
A single rent increase or unexpected medical bill can make the difference between staying housed and losing everything. Poverty remains one of the leading causes of homelessness, contributing to approximately 80–90% of family homelessness cases. For many seniors, homelessness is not about poor planning, it is about rising costs that outpace their income.
Myth #2: People choose to be unhoused.
Reality: Many individuals experiencing homelessness are not choosing the streets, they are choosing safety. Victims of domestic violence often leave their homes with little warning, sometimes in the middle of the night, to protect themselves or their children.
Leaving an abusive situation can mean walking away from belongings, savings, and stability. In Maine, domestic violence is one of the leading causes of sudden homelessness, and research shows that poverty following abuse is a factor in up to 90% of domestic violence-related homelessness cases. These individuals are not choosing homelessness, they are choosing survival.
Myth #3: Homelessness only happens to people with addiction problems.
Reality: Many people experiencing homelessness were once steadily employed. A workplace injury, illness, or unexpected job loss can quickly unravel financial stability. Missing even a few weeks of income can lead to unpaid rent, eviction, and homelessness. And when addiction is a factor, it is sometimes rooted in a legitimate medical need; a painful injury or chronic condition that required prescriptions, which for some led to dependency they never anticipated or chose.
Myth #4: Mental illness automatically leads to homelessness.
Reality: Mental illness alone does not cause homelessness. However, when mental health challenges are combined with limited access to healthcare, lack of affordable housing, and financial hardship, the risk increases.
Studies indicate that about half of chronically homeless adults live with mental illness, often without consistent access to treatment. Many are actively seeking help but face long wait lists and limited resources. These individuals deserve compassion, care, and support, not judgment.
The Truth About Homelessness
Homelessness is rarely caused by a single event. More often, it is the result of multiple hardships happening at once like rising housing costs, medical emergencies, domestic violence, job loss, or untreated health conditions.
It can happen to seniors who worked their entire lives.
It can happen to families who suddenly lose income.
It can happen to people who never imagined they would need help.
At Hope Squad Maine, we believe that understanding leads to compassion, and compassion leads to action. Every meal served, every conversation shared, and every moment of kindness reminds someone that they are not alone.
How You Can Help
• Learn the facts and share them with others
• Volunteer with local outreach efforts
• Donate supplies or resources to support those in need
• Treat every person with dignity and respect
Homelessness is not a personal failure, but is often the result of life circumstances, limited resources, and rising costs that make stability harder to maintain. By replacing myths with understanding, we create a community where hope is possible and no one feels invisible.