No, it is not a defense.

Yes, I have known homeless men, locally, who held a Ph.d or master degree. There is also that newsworthy example a few years back. Maurice Johnson Is Homeless With 2 Master’s Degrees link

The small % of homeless always exists. What changes are the people who slip in and out of that homeless %.

Homelessness is often linked to mental health issues, so nothing is really a bulwark against it.

Granted, the more people that know you and depend upon you, the more likely that you will be cared for properly.

No, not anymore. It used to be, but in light of this recession there are PhDs on food stamps.
Many degreed people have lost their work and been unable to find sustainable work in their fields, especially middle aged people that are cast aside for the young upstarts.

No, it is not. Homeless come from all kinds of social, economic and educational backgrounds.

As is sometimes said in groups where people need a little humility, “it doesn’t matter if you have a lot of degrees, so does a rectal thermometer.”

Homelessness arises from two general problems: economic disaster and substance abuse/mental health problems. Education is not a protection against either. You ask about “Chronic” homelessness. That is more likely to arise from the latter and not the former, and many of those who suffer from mental health issues are well educated.

No, education is no more than a buttress against homelessness.

Nope There are a surprising number of people with advanced degrees and no practical skills. They’re all over the place, and I know literally dozens of them. Anyone who believes that a certificate from a university is a reliable defense against destitution these days should pay closer attention. I am continually shocked at the paltry salaries dribbled on even professional people these days, and God help you if your degree is in the arts or humanities.

What’s more important is having marketable skills. You could get a master’s degree in underwater basketweaving and be basically unemployable. Or you could be a great speaker, and naturally persuasive, and have a lucrative career in sales. There are lots of people who do that without having a degree.

The best way to rewarding employment is to have some specialized skill that not everyone can do. I know a guy who dropped out of college. He got a job at Radio Shack, then an overnight tech support job. Meanwhile he was teaching himself coding languages. That got his foot in the door with a government contractor, and now he develops software for the government. Not everyone can write software, but everything is done on computers.

Specialized skills bring in money. As long as you can make money for someone, you will be able to find a job. Think about your talents, and which ones you can develop. Work on your talents and look for jobs that let you use them.

@Haleth There is an electronic boutique I could apply to… when they are hiring. In Canada Radio Shack is called the source. I could apply there too.

@talljasperman Sounds awesome, you should do it!

Got an email 10 minutes ago from my lifelong friend now down on his luck. He holds an MFA.and was notified by Target to report at 1pm on 27 November for orientation. He has emailed back for confirmation that it isn’t a mistake.