Typology of Homeless Individuals

Homeless Individuals: Definition and Characteristics

Homeless individuals are defined as isolated persons with minimal economic resources and work stoppage. They lack stable housing, have broken family ties, rely on social institutions for survival, and possess no personal resources to cope with their situation. Two key states characterize their condition:

1. Economic Deprivation: Places them at the lowest level of poverty, with begging as their primary income source. They often experience health deficiencies, including malnutrition and poor hygiene.
2. Relational Uprooting: Results in permanent unsociability, marked by an absence of friendships and only transient contacts focused on obtaining care.

Typologies of Homeless Individuals

The following typologies can be established:

1. Emerging Homeless

Individuals presenting at institutions requiring timely assistance. This group may include mothers with young children and victims of abuse. Their stay is often prolonged due to a lack of space in specialized institutions.

2. Economic Homeless

Individuals, typically young professionals, who have lost their jobs and have minimal, discontinuous employment. Family ties are often nonexistent, with families unaware of their situation.

3. Institutionalized Homeless

Individuals with a long history of institutionalization, enduring their problems without effective solutions.

4. Psychological Homeless

This category has two sub-topologies:

1. Serious Mental Illness: Individuals, predominantly women, who have undergone extensive pharmacological treatment. They exhibit marginalized behavior, often resembling mild autism and indifference.
2. Recent Disorders: Individuals experiencing more recent mental health challenges, characterized by internalized struggles, depression, and anxiety.

5. Physiological Homeless

This category includes the following:

1. Disability: Individuals with permanent physical disabilities, such as amputations or deafness.
2. Convalescence: Chronically homeless individuals seeking institutional support when in a deplorable physical state.
3. Addiction: This group differentiates between hard drug users (who often experience withdrawal symptoms and avoid interaction) and alcoholics, who may also fall into other typologies.