Homeless Population Trending Younger, Substance Abuse an Important Root Cause

In 1958, most homeless people in Chicago were at least 50 years old, and only around 10 percent were under 35. Three decades later, nearly 40 percent of Chicago’s homeless were younger than 35 years old, and other cities showed similar patterns. The falling age of the homeless was alarming in the 1980s, but according to federal data, the problem is even worse now. Today, an astonishing 47 percent of homeless persons are under 35, and more than one-quarter are younger than 25.

What makes this phenomenon especially interesting is that housing costs alone cannot explain the age shift. While it certainly explains why homelessness is more common in some cities than others, it offers little insight as to why the homeless population skews so much younger than it used to.

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About the Author

Christopher Calton

Christopher Calton, Ph.D., is the research fellow in housing and homelessness with the Independent Institute in Oakland, Calif., and a contributor to Beyond Homeless: Good Intentions, Bad Outcomes, Transformative Solutions.

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In 1958, most homeless people in Chicago were at least 50 years old, and only around 10 percent were under 35. Three decades later, nearly 40 percent of Chicago’s homeless were younger than 35 years old, and other cities showed similar patterns. The falling age of the homeless was alarming in the 1980s, but according to federal data, the problem is even worse now. Today, an astonishing 47 percent of homeless persons are under 35, and more than one-quarter are younger than 25.

What makes this phenomenon especially interesting is that housing costs alone cannot explain the age shift. While it certainly explains why homelessness is more common in some cities than others, it offers little insight as to why the homeless population skews so much younger than it used to.