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Myth: "Homeless People Are Dangerous"

Topic: Common Myths • Last updated: February 2026

One of the most harmful and persistent myths about homelessness is that people experiencing homelessness are inherently dangerous or prone to violence. This misconception shapes public policy, influences community responses to homelessness, and contributes to stigma and discrimination. But what does the evidence actually tell us about homelessness and public safety?

The Reality: Victims, Not Perpetrators

Research consistently shows that people experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. Consider these findings:

  • People experiencing homelessness are 9-15 times more likely to be victims of violent crime compared to the general population
  • Nearly half of all homeless individuals report being victims of violence
  • Homeless women face particularly high rates of sexual assault, with studies finding that 20-50% have experienced sexual violence while homeless

The Vulnerability Factor

Living without secure shelter exposes people to significant safety risks. Lacking the protection of locked doors, private spaces, and secure storage makes people experiencing homelessness easy targets for theft, assault, and exploitation.

Examining the Data on Criminal Behavior

While public perception often associates homelessness with criminal activity, research paints a more nuanced picture:

Serious Crime Rates

Studies examining serious crimes (violent offenses and major property crimes) find that:

  • People experiencing homelessness commit serious crimes at rates similar to or lower than the housed population when controlling for demographic factors
  • The vast majority of homeless individuals are not involved in violent crime
  • When violent incidents do occur, they most commonly involve conflicts between homeless individuals rather than targeting the general public

Quality-of-Life Offenses

People experiencing homelessness are disproportionately arrested for minor, non-violent offenses that are often directly related to their lack of housing:

  • Trespassing (being in places where they aren't permitted to rest)
  • Loitering (having nowhere else to go)
  • Public urination (lacking access to restrooms)
  • Camping in public spaces (having no private space)
  • Open container violations (having no private space to consume alcohol)

These offenses, while sometimes disruptive to communities, do not pose significant safety threats and are primarily a result of having no private space to exist.

Mental Health, Substance Use, and Violence

Public concerns about safety often focus on visible mental health crises or substance use among people experiencing homelessness. However:

Mental Illness and Violence

  • The vast majority of people with mental illness, housed or unhoused, are not violent
  • Having a mental illness alone is not a significant predictor of violent behavior
  • When mental health is a factor in incidents, it typically involves untreated conditions that could be addressed with appropriate care

Substance Use and Behavior

  • Substance use disorders occur at higher rates among people experiencing homelessness, but most people with these disorders do not engage in violent behavior
  • Public intoxication may create discomfort but rarely poses serious safety threats
  • The relationship between substance use and homelessness is complex—many people develop or increase substance use after becoming homeless as a coping mechanism

Context Matters

When disruptive behavior does occur, it's important to recognize that it often stems from untreated health conditions, trauma responses, or survival behaviors—not inherent dangerousness or criminal intent.

The Impact of Criminalization

Policies that criminalize homelessness based on perceptions of dangerousness often worsen the situation:

  • Criminal records create additional barriers to housing and employment, prolonging homelessness
  • Incarceration disrupts treatment and service engagement
  • Fines and fees create additional financial burdens
  • Displacement through enforcement pushes people into less visible, often less safe areas

These approaches typically increase rather than decrease public costs while failing to address the underlying causes of homelessness.

Media Representation and Perception

The perception that homeless people are dangerous is significantly influenced by media coverage and public discourse:

Selective Reporting

  • Incidents involving people experiencing homelessness often receive disproportionate media attention
  • Headlines frequently highlight homeless status when reporting crimes, but rarely do so for housed individuals
  • Violent incidents involving people experiencing homelessness are more likely to be reported than similar incidents involving housed people

Confirmation Bias

  • When a person who appears homeless behaves in disruptive ways, it reinforces existing stereotypes
  • Similar behavior from housed individuals is less likely to be attributed to a broader group
  • Positive interactions with people experiencing homelessness often go unnoticed or unreported

The Role of Trauma

Understanding trauma is essential to addressing concerns about behavior and safety:

  • Many people experiencing homelessness have histories of significant trauma, including childhood abuse, domestic violence, and combat experiences
  • Homelessness itself is traumatic and can trigger or exacerbate post-traumatic stress responses
  • Behaviors that may seem erratic or concerning often represent trauma responses rather than dangerous intent
  • Trauma-informed approaches are more effective than punitive responses in addressing these behaviors

Evidence-Based Approaches to Safety Concerns

Communities that have successfully addressed both homelessness and related community concerns have implemented approaches that focus on housing and services rather than enforcement:

Housing First

  • Providing immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions
  • Research shows Housing First programs reduce both homelessness and public disorder concerns
  • Housing stability creates the foundation for addressing other issues

Supportive Services

  • Mental health treatment and substance use services
  • Trauma-informed care approaches
  • Case management to connect people with appropriate resources

Community-Based Alternatives

  • Crisis response teams that include mental health professionals rather than solely law enforcement
  • Outreach workers who build relationships and connect people to services
  • Public restrooms, storage facilities, and day centers that reduce quality-of-life concerns

Success Story: CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets)

In Eugene, Oregon, the CAHOOTS program dispatches teams of medics and crisis workers instead of police to non-violent situations involving mental health, homelessness, and addiction. The program handles about 20% of 911 calls, saves the city millions in public safety costs, and provides more appropriate responses to behavioral health crises.

A More Accurate Understanding

A evidence-based understanding of homelessness and safety recognizes that:

  • People experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crime
  • The vast majority of homeless individuals do not engage in violent behavior
  • Disruptive behaviors are often related to survival needs, untreated health conditions, or trauma responses
  • Housing and services are more effective than criminalization in addressing both homelessness and related community concerns

Conclusion

The myth that homeless people are inherently dangerous is not supported by evidence. While concerns about public behavior and community impacts are valid, addressing these concerns effectively requires moving beyond stereotypes to understand the complex realities of homelessness.

By focusing on evidence-based solutions that provide housing, appropriate services, and community-based responses, we can address both homelessness and community concerns more effectively than approaches based on fear and misconception.

Key Takeaway

People experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. The most effective way to address both homelessness and related community concerns is through housing, appropriate services, and compassionate engagement—not criminalization based on unfounded fears.

References & Further Reading

  1. National Coalition for the Homeless. "Hate Crimes and Violence Against People Experiencing Homelessness." NCH, 2023. https://nationalhomeless.org/hate-crimes/
  2. Meinbresse, M., Brinkley-Rubinstein, L., Grassette, A., et al. "Exploring the Experiences of Violence Among Individuals Who Are Homeless Using a Consumer-Led Approach." Violence and Victims, 29(1), 2014. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-12-00069
  3. Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Criminal Victimization, 2022." U.S. Department of Justice, 2023. https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/criminal-victimization-2022
  4. Desmond, M. & Valdez, N. "Unpolicing the Urban Poor: Consequences of Third-Party Policing for Inner-City Women." American Sociological Review, 78(1), 2013. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122412470829
  5. Elbogen, E. B. & Johnson, S. C. "The Intricate Link Between Violence and Mental Disorder: Results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions." Archives of General Psychiatry, 66(2), 2009. https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2008.537
  6. National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. "Housing Not Handcuffs 2019: Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities." NLCHP, 2019. https://homelesslaw.org/housing-not-handcuffs/
  7. White Bird Clinic. "CAHOOTS: Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets." White Bird Clinic, 2024. https://whitebirdclinic.org/cahoots/
  8. Jasinski, J. L., Wesley, J. K., Wright, J. D., & Mustaine, E. E. "Hard Lives, Mean Streets: Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women." Northeastern University Press, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1555/9781555537289
  9. Fazel, S., Geddes, J. R., & Kushel, M. "The Health of Homeless People in High-Income Countries: Descriptive Epidemiology, Health Consequences, and Clinical and Policy Recommendations." The Lancet, 384(9953), 2014. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)61132-6
  10. Stuart, H. "Violence and Mental Illness: An Overview." World Psychiatry, 2(2), 2003. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525086/