As a society, we have a tendency to generalise the worst characteristics of some homeless individuals to all, assigning them the single story of being "lazy", "drug addicts/alcoholics", "mentally ill", among others.

These narratives dehumanise, depersonalise, and stigmatise those living on the streets, perpetuating the struggles of people in vulnerable situations.

It is important to consider that:

1. There is often an excessive individualisation of the issue, whereas one of the main explanatory factors for homelessness is circumstantial - poverty.
    
2. Alcohol and drug use or mental health issues are, in a significant percentage of cases, consequences of life on the streets and the lack of social support.
    
3. Recognising the complexity and diversity of life on the streets is crucial to avoiding "single stories" and adopting a more humanised perception of homeless individuals. It is imperative to eliminate stigma and build a more inclusive and welcoming society.

Find out more at…
Aldeia, J. (2014). Para além do pecado e da doença: desconstruindo discursos sobre o fenómeno dos sem-abrigo. Sociologia On Line, 5-26. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.2/15955 

Academia Portuguesa de Cinema [Suque Produções]. (2020, setembro 13). A Rua é uma Selva - A vida de um sem abrigo, nas ruas de Lisboa. #curtadocumentário [Vídeo]. YouTube. - Available here