The number one misconception about the homeless is this: that if people stop doing things for the homeless, the homeless will begin doing things for themselves.

The number two misconception about the homeless is this: that homelessness is an extension of poverty.

Homeless people may live in poverty, but poverty does not cause homelessness. Poverty comes about from a lack of money. Homelessness comes about by a desire to be separated from society. Of course, true and total separation from society is impossible to achieve. But for homelessness, only the desire to be separated from society is necessary.

And this refers back to misconception number one. When people stop doing things for the homeless, they are only helping the homeless to actualize this separation. By removing or denying services to homeless people, homelessness only becomes more entrenched, and more difficult to overcome.