In general, a chronically homeless person is an unaccompanied disabled individual who has been continuously homeless for over one year, at least that’s how the government defines it.
I met Rick near Times Square in New York City. Rick worked at the same job for 37 years, but after a stroke caused challenges, he lost his job and ran out of money. He has been turned down for disability so that leaves him out on the streets.
Rick has been homeless for 3 months. Most of the support for fighting homelessness is targeting to chronic homeless. But according to HUD, you have to be homeless for longer than a year to qualify.
