Homelessness can affect anyone, at any time, as people experiencing homelessness can be affected for different reasons and to varying degrees. Social, economic, and health factors can contribute to and potentially lead to how someone can experience homelessness. There are also many stigmas and assumptions about people who experience homelessness.

Homeless shelters are a temporary option. They can be unsafe and restrictive; oftentimes people will need to be separated from their belongings and loved ones. Furthermore, the capacity of shelters is frequently limited, especially in the winter when it is needed most.

A common misconception about homelessness is that providing housing is the only solution. Housing is important, however, it is not a long-term solution as there may be other underlying issues, such as mental health and/or addiction, that keeps individuals in a problematic cycle. For example, mental health can change as a response to addiction or life events such as job loss or illness.