Discrimination against homeless people

Discrimination against homeless people is a form of aporophobia which is categorized as the act of treating people who lack housing in a prejudiced or negative manner because they are homeless. Other factors which can compound discrimination against homeless people include discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexuality, age, mental illness, physical disability and other considerations.

Discrimination in the forms of social ostracization, institutional prejudice, and punitive legislation impacts homeless individuals, leaving well documented negative affects such as reducing reported rates of well-being, fracturing perceived social support, decreasing access to goods and services, increasing substance abuse, and prolonging the duration of homelessness.