Have you ever noticed how homeless people become more noticeable as you venture deeper into large cities? Go out in the countryside and you hardly ever see any people who are actually homeless. Cities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City, are known for having at least one homeless person on just about every corner.

So it definitely seems as if the larger a city is, the more homeless people there are. Sure, someone could argue the point that there’s always going to be more homeless people where there’s a larger population, but we’re also talking about density here.

There’s a larger percentage or per capita amount of people living on the streets than in smaller towns. The reasons for this can vary because cities attract people for different reasons, but some reasons are more common than others. Here are the three main reasons why homeless people choose to live in big cities.

Mass Transit

The most obvious benefit to living in the city is that big cities usually have large public transportation systems and mass transit. This can include buses, trains, subways, or even ferries. To homeless people, these things are vital and necessary in order to get from place to place and even to eventually get out of homelessness itself.

Since not everybody can afford bus tickets, some cities or private programs have ways that homeless people can get discounted or free tickets. Some career centers will offer free monthly bus passes to homeless people who register with them and show up twice a week to attend job workshop classes and to register for employment.

When I was homeless I rarely used buses, since everything was within a one hour walk from me and the buses cost money. But when I needed the bus, I was glad I had them there, running every 15 minutes, so that I could get to important appointments or even my storage unit when I needed to.

Programs and Shelters

With a larger population comes more shelters and more programs to help the needy. When you’re homeless, you need as much help as you can get to get back on your feet. There are federal and state programs that can help people out, but these are easier to access in cities.

In addition to that, there are many private-run programs and shelters that aren’t usually as common as you get out into rural and less populated areas. From large churches with programs to help the disadvantaged, to soup kitchens, to discounted medical programs. These types of advantages and services are encountered more easily when you’re living in a big city.

Since there are so many places to frequent and since cities are very walkable, this can all make life a little easier for those who are down on their luck. A person who needs food can simply go to a church and receive breakfast, then go to a different shelter an hour later and eat breakfast again. The same goes for lunches and dinners or bagged and canned food.

Some people argue that it’s too easy for people to take advantage when a system like this is in place and that homeless people have no incentive to get back on their feet. This may all be very true, but regardless, it’s one main reason so many homeless people choose to live in large cities.

Nearby Amenities

Imagine you’re on the street and you have no house to live in, no private bathroom, no sink, and no air conditioning. These types of things that your average person takes for granted are not needed if you’re used to living on the streets and in a metropolis or urban area.

For example, let’s say you’re living in San Francisco and suddenly have to use a bathroom to wash your face. There are plenty of fast-food restaurants and other places for you to walk into and clean up.

Also, if it’s a really hot day and you’re worried about becoming dehydrated. You can always just walk into a shopping mall and spend your time there in the air conditioning. When it’s raining, you have more than 10 different libraries you can visit to stay indoors.

Now, if you were out in a rural area, you’d have less shelter and fewer opportunities to use public bathrooms or to take advantage of mainstream air conditioning. All these things can be found in cities and in multiple places that are often near each other.

Social Support

In addition to all the other reasons, a larger population in the city means more social support for those on the streets. When you’re homeless, friendships and bonds with others can be just as important as they are for regular people, if not more so. Loneliness can lead to depression, which is extremely common amongst homeless populations.

When a homeless person has to travel into a city’s center, whether it’s to pick up mail or to eat food at a shelter, they naturally meet others.  Their first behavior in this scenario is normally to remain defensive or standoffish because nobody on the streets wants to display any sign of weakness to others.

However, the need for camaraderie and socialization with others can often lead to opening up and becoming friendly. This often leads to homeless people returning to the same places within the city because this is where their social support is. This is where their friends are when they don’t have anyone else to socialize with and relate to.