The Critical Definitions for Measuring Homelessness: Implication for Homeless Policy Formulation from Developed Countries to Thailand

Homelessness phenomenon is facing in countries. In the past, the definition of homelessness was based on a materialistic mindset or the principle of objectivity, which viewed problems as tangible and visible objects. Looking at social problems based on objectivity leads to a definition of homelessness that includes only those who are sleeping on the streets and people living in government shelters by identifying the causal factors of homelessness at the individual level, especially mental illness, crime, and drug use. Defining homelessness objectively also involves counting methods that measure the characteristics of homelessness using street counts from the locations where homeless people are seen, and it is therefore not difficult to identify them. However, criticism of these old definitions and enumeration methods has led to new approaches. This concept viewed problems subjectively via psychosocial, emotional, and cultural perspectives to shape the links between home and homelessness. Also, homelessness phenomenon is related to structural problems such as housing management, labor management, employment, oppression and domestic violence. In this sense, it reflects that the homelessness phenomenon can occur even if those people have a home. Furthermore, the author presents an appropriate definition and measurement to create as a model for homeless policy formulation in Thailand.