Definitions of Homelessness
How many people are homeless in America?
By the nature of homelessness, it’s nearly impossible to get a precise count. The dictionary defines homelessness as “having no home or permanent residence.” However, there are a few different definitions of homelessness and ways of counting homeless people used by the federal government and people who work in homeless shelters and programs.
Regardless of which definition is used, many people experiencing homelessness avoid situations where they might be counted. This is often due to fear of stigma, criminalization, or negative consequences. For example, some homeless parents worry that disclosing their housing status might result in child protective services removing their children.
HUD Definition and Data
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
- 326,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2021.
- In 2024, that number rose dramatically to 771,480 people—the highest ever recorded.
Roughly half of all people experiencing homelessness were in sheltered settings like emergency shelters or transitional housing, while the other half were in unsheltered locations such as sidewalks, encampments, or vehicles.
HUD defines homelessness in four primary categories:
- Individuals and families without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
This includes people living in places not meant for human habitation (e.g., streets, cars, abandoned buildings), in emergency shelters, or in institutions (like hospitals or jails) for fewer than 90 days. - People who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence.
Defined as individuals or families at risk of homelessness within 14 days due to housing loss. - Unaccompanied youth and families with children and youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes and do not meet the above criteria.
- Individuals and families fleeing—or attempting to flee—domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous and life-threatening conditions related to violence against the individual or family member.
U.S. Department of Education Definition
The U.S. Department of Education uses a broader definition to account for the unique challenges faced by students and families with school-aged children experiencing homelessness.
According to the National Center for Homeless Education, 1,375,537 students were identified as homeless during the 2022–2023 school year. The Department of Education defines homeless children and youth as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who are:
- Children and youth sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; living in emergency or transitional shelters; abandoned in hospitals; awaiting foster care placement.
- Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
- Children and youth who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
- Migratory children living in circumstances described above.
Why Counting Homelessness Is Difficult
There are several reasons it is difficult to get a complete, precise count of the number of people homeless in America. The varying federal counts and definitions of homeless are helpful, but do not include everyone. For example:
- People staying temporarily with friends or relatives—often referred to as “couch surfing”—are typically excluded from official counts
- Undocumented immigrants or refugees may avoid seeking services or being counted due to fear of legal consequences
- Many individuals experiencing homelessness intentionally avoid contact with authorities because of past trauma, stigma, or fear of repercussions
HUD conducts its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count on a single night in January each year. This snapshot approach misses many people, especially those whose housing instability is temporary or hidden.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education’s count only includes students enrolled in public schools. It does not account for:
- Students who dropped out
- Children experiencing homelessness during the summer
- Babies and toddlers not enrolled in public preschool programs
There is no single, complete count of homelessness in America. Every method captures part of the picture, but none capture the full reality. All available data likely underrepresents the true scale of homelessness, especially among children, youth, families, and people living doubled-up or in unsafe conditions.
Learn More on How to Help Homeless People
To learn more about solutions to homelessness, visit:
