The article you linked says nothing of the sort, nor is it ever even really hinted at that the average age is 9... Which is quite difficult to believe without a lot of proof to contradict every bit of anecdotal evidence to the contrary. I'm not an expert and I'd love to have proof of the average age one way or another but you have made an outrageous claim with 0 backup.
Researching just now, there's some questiion on that statistic, though the point remains that there are a tremendous number of minor children affected by homelessness, unlikely to fall under the scope of either addiction or mental illness as fiter was addressing, above.
Not that either gives cause to kick anyone to the curb.
It's not that anyone is bring kicked to the curb for being mentally ill or addicted. However, for most housing, you have to pay and respect some rules. If you can't pay or can't respect the rules, then you'll either have to find another place or you'll become homeless. The individual interaction is not heartless, but it is pragmetic. The larger issue does still need to be addressed.
The next question is whether their parents have any troubles...
If there's a failure to provide for those who cannot follow the rules, then the systemic effect is kicking to the curb.
What of those whose "respect" failures aresuch that they cannot gain or hold a job? Discrimination, disability, drugs testing, convictions or arrest screens, etc.?
The sytem you describe kicks them to the curb as well.
All of this also studiously ignores the fact that housing has been underbuilt for decades ineconomically vital areas.
My point was that the decisions are not being made based on disability or drugs testing. The individual decisions are being made based on the behavior of the person. That's not discrimination, that's just responding to another person's behavior. Is that not a fair system?
