Written by Courtney Mabie, Success Coach at Freedom House
“Homelessness is expensive.”
This stark and powerful statement underscores a truth that often remains overlooked. While it might seem that those without a roof over their heads are saving money by not paying rent, the financial and emotional toll of homelessness is profound and multifaceted.
I witness these struggles daily and work tirelessly to address them at Freedom House.
At first glance, the absence of rent payments, insurance costs, and monthly utility bills might suggest homelessness could be less costly. However, this perspective overlooks the myriad expenses incurred in the daily struggle for survival. For those experiencing homelessness, every day presents a relentless challenge of securing basic needs—meals, transportation, hygiene services, and more.
These costs can add up quickly, especially when one’s income is nonexistent or severely limited. Freedom House steps in to provide not just shelter, but also meals and essential supplies, easing this financial burden for residents.
Consider the daily expenditure on food. Individuals without stable housing often rely on food banks, shelters, or charity organizations for a hot meal, but these resources are not always sufficient or consistent. Even when they are, the effort to access these resources requires time, energy, and often transportation—each of which can be expensive.
Transportation, too, is a critical cost. Whether it’s the expense of public transit or the cost of maintaining a vehicle, getting around is essential for accessing employment opportunities, healthcare, and social services. For many, these costs can create a barrier to escaping homelessness.
The cost of maintaining personal hygiene is another hidden expense. Without a stable place to live, securing showers and clean clothes becomes a daily struggle, often necessitating the use of paid facilities or resources that may not always be readily accessible.
More significant than these immediate financial burdens, however, are the emotional and psychological costs of homelessness. The absence of a stable home can erode one’s sense of self-worth and dignity. When society’s expectations place immense pressure on individuals to provide and care for their families, the inability to meet these expectations can lead to a deep sense of inadequacy.
Parents experiencing homelessness often grapple with the fear that they are failing their children, unable to offer the stability and security that are deemed essential.
The stress of navigating a system set up to keep them on the margins can lead to a loss of hope and integrity. The weight of these intangible costs—diminished self-esteem, fractured family relationships, and the erosion of hope—is significant and often overlooked.
This is where Freedom House Ministries make a profound difference.
We provide more than just temporary shelter. Offering a space where families can rebuild their lives with dignity and support, creates a change forever. Addressing the immediate needs of housing and food, Freedom House addresses the immediate needs of shelter and food and also focuses on the critical aspects of emotional and psychological support. We provide access to counseling, case management resources, and job coaching, all of which are designed to help individuals and families regain their confidence and self-sufficiency.
Freedom House recognizes that stability is not just about having a roof over one’s head but about restoring the sense of hope and purpose that can be lost in the struggle for survival.
Through our comprehensive approach, Freedom House helps families transition from a state of crisis to stability and success, fostering an environment where parents can regain their confidence and children grow up in a nurturing, supportive setting.
There are so many hidden costs and aspects of homelessness that go unseen. It isn’t just about getting a job or finding an apartment. The scars created when becoming and during homelessness are deep. It takes a support system to heal the many wounds. While I see the struggle daily, I look to the positives of alleviating costs and paving the way for families to achieve stability and a brighter future.