Homelessness in the Movies
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
By Elle Palumbo, Storytelling and Engagement Intern
Understanding homelessness, the housing crisis, and homing insecurity can come from more than just current events. These movies offer insight into the complex issue of homelessness that continues to impact families and communities throughout the country. These movies also tackle the differing ways homelessness can affect people, along with shining light on mental health, addiction, and how homelessness plays a role in these issues.
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) - This classic Will Smith movie follows him as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman, based on Gardner’s 2006 memoir of the same name. The film follows Gardner’s almost one-year struggle battling homelessness with his son, hopping from shelter to shelter. Smith captures Gardner with unbridled hope, refusing to give up as he works to create a better life for himself and his son.
Time Out of Mind (2014) - This film follows a homeless man as he battles with poverty and eventually is forced to sleep on the streets. The film highlights the struggles with mental health in response to a lack of housing, as seen in the characters of homeless man George, and his friend Dixon. Director Oren Moverman places an emphasis on the effect homelessness can have on families and mental health in a powerful and insightful way.
No Address (2025) - This film follows Lauren, a young woman who is forced into homelessness and finds family and connection with a group dealing with similar issues of homelessness and poverty. The film explores themes of found family, hope, and acceptance through exploring how homelessness is something that could happen to anyone at any time.
The Lady in the Van (2015) - The late Maggie Smith takes you on a comedic journey following Alan Bennett, a writer who meets Mary Shepherd, an elderly woman who lived in a van on his driveway for 15 years. The story, which was also an essay, book, stage play and a radio play explores themes of uncertainty, emotional pain, and desperation through Smith’s elderly character.
Shelter (2014) - This drama film explores homelessness through the lens of immigration and addiction and eventually into a love story. From actor Paul Bettany in his directorial debut, this movie highlights the struggles homeless individuals face in order to survive, and how there can still be redemption and conquering of the system.
Rosie (2018) - This Irish film follows a story of a mother who attempts to protect her family after they become homeless. The audience gets to see a glimpse into how the mother and her husband work together to shield their children from the reality of the situation, through exploring themes of housing disparity, economic insecurity, and showing that homelessness can affect anyone at any time.
Stuart: A Life Backwards (2007) - This biography adaptation by Alexander Masters follows his real life friend Stuart Clive Shorter as he becomes mentally unstable and eventually lives homeless on the streets.. The film traces the events of Stuart's life backwards, starting from his adult life and moving towards his troubled childhood, emphasizing how mental health, social service failures and abuse can impact someone's life.
The Public (2018) - This film shows the realistic divide between homeless people and law enforcement as it follows a group of homeless library patrons who refuse to leave a Cincinnati public library after a cold front leads to all emergency shelters in the area being at full capacity. The film attempts to highlight the utilization of civil disobedience while also showing the disparity between police, struggling homeless individuals, and patrons caught in between
The Soloist (2009) - This biographical drama is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless musician who developed schizophrenia. Mental health and its effect on homelessness plays an important role in this movie, with director Joe Wright emphasizing the power of friendship and kindness and the effect it can have on struggling individuals.
A Street Cat Named Bob (2016) - This film based on the story of James Bowen and Bob the Cat, follows his struggle with an addiction to heroin and how a cat who mysteriously comes into his life, changes it forever. The film highlights the importance of companionship and struggle through addiction and homelessness.
Each film offers a different perspective on how individuals become homeless and how they deal with homelessness. These films reflect an experience anyone could have if life doesn't go to plan. Viewing them can help change the way people respond to the housing crisis, providing an opportunity to change and end homelessness for good.
If you or anyone you know is affected by homelessness, here are resources that might help:
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