Homelessness as a Modern Megacity Problem: A Systemic Crisis at the Intersection of Economy, Sociology, and Law The phenomenon of homelessness in megacities is not just a gathering of marginalized individuals, but a systemic dysfunction of the urban environment, an indicator of deep socio-economic rifts. The modern megacity, with its high cost of living, competitive labor market, and complex social infrastructure, simultaneously generates and makes the problem of housing absence most visible. This is a multifaceted problem, the roots of which lie not in personal failures, but in structural failures of society. 1. Economic and Social Drivers: Why Does the Megacity "Produce" Homeless People? Housing affordability: A key factor. The growth in real estate and rental prices in cities with a population of over ten million (Moscow, New York, London, Tokyo) significantly outpaces the growth in income of a significant part of the population. Gentrification (improvement of districts) pushes low-income residents to the outskirts and then onto the streets. Losing a job, late payment of wages, or illness can become a fatal trigger for falling into a debt trap and losing housing. Crisis of the family and social ties institution: Traditional support networks (family, rural community) weaken in the conditions of the megacity. A person experiencing a crisis finds themselves in a social vacuum. Anemia (a state of normative uncertainty and social ties breakdown), described by Durkheim, becomes a direct road to marginalization. Exit from institutional systems: A significant portion of the homeless are those who recently left penitentiary institutions, psychiatric hospitals, or children's homes, without skills for socialization and support for life "on the streets." The megacity, with its anonymity, becomes both a place of "freedom" and a trap for them. 2. Psychological and Medical Aspects: A Vicious Circle Homelessness is not just the lack of a roof over one's head, but a state ... Read more