I have known there were multiple causes of homelessness, but I didn’t know how much of homelessness was caused by problems completely unrelated to the homeless person him or herself.  When reading about the different causes of homelessness 20 years ago I felt as though a lot of them still related today, but there are so many new issues today.  With some of the main populations of homeless people having either disabilities, chronic health problems, or fleeing domestic violence situations is alarming.  These people aren’t drug addicts or lazy.  These are people who are sick or unable to work, and people who are being forced to either stay in a home where they are abused or become homeless.  I think society forgets about these people.  They get overlooked, because it is easier to think they are all doing this to themselves than thinking about the fact that they just need help.  If everyone knew just how many people are actually homeless because of drug addictions or alcohol addictions, they would be surprised to see how low the number actually is.  In San Bernardino County, according to the point in time count of 2013, on 24% of the homeless people surveyed had substance abuse problems.  This leaves another 76% of people who are homeless for other reasons.  Education to people about this problem has to be the first step.  People have to be aware of how many people are on the streets for reasons they cannot change.