Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the Plight of Homelessness
Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is often illustrated as a pyramid: at the base are physiological needs, followed by safety, love and belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization at the top. The model suggests that before individuals can focus on growth and fulfillment, their most basic survival needs must first be met.
When viewed through this lens, homelessness is not simply a housing issue—it is a profound disruption of the entire human needs system.
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From Survival to Self-Actualization: Building the Foundation for Human Potential Progression in life is contingent upon the fulfillment of fundamental needs. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, individuals must first address physiological requirements such as nourishment, hydration, and shelter, followed by safety needs encompassing security and stability. Only once these essential needs are adequately satisfied…