Homelessness is increasing in many major cities around the world. What do you think are the main causes of this problem?

The dramatic escalation of homelessness in major metropolitan areas worldwide represents a complex societal failing.

While

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the visible outcome is financial deprivation, the fundamental drivers of

this

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crisis stem not merely from personal misfortune, but rather from systemic economic forces and deficiencies in social infrastructure. The most significant cause is the affordability crisis endemic to global cities.

Urbanization

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Urbanisation

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has resulted in intense competition for limited space, leading to rental costs that increase far more steeply than average wages.

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, large segments of the population, particularly those in low-wage service industries or the gig economy, exist on the financial precipice.

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precarious balance means that a single unforeseen event—

such

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as a medical emergency or a period of unemployment—is sufficient to trigger a loss of accommodation, rendering individuals instantaneously homeless.

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, inadequate social infrastructure contributes heavily to

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issue. The closure of many long-term mental health facilities and the scarcity of affordable rehabilitation

centers

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centres

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have left vulnerable populations without essential safety nets. Many people who struggle with severe mental illness or chronic addiction find themselves unable to navigate the complexities of stable housing, often exhibiting the

behaviors

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behaviours

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that lead to eviction or job loss. Unlike physical poverty, these underlying psychological issues cannot be solved by simply providing a job, demonstrating a critical failure in public health policy. In conclusion, the surge in homelessness in major cities is fundamentally a structural problem. It is a dual consequence of the widening chasm between stagnant incomes and soaring urban housing costs,

coupled with

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a severe shortage of effective support mechanisms for people facing health-related challenges. Addressing

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issue successfully will require comprehensive policy interventions focusing on rent control and substantial investment in mental healthcare, rather than just treating the visible symptom of poverty.