Kay Hames
U.S. Legal Code §11302 states that a person experiencing homelessness is "an individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." Legal Code §11302 details the various living situations that characterize individuals experiencing homelessness and how to qualify for federal assistance.
This includes individuals or families who primarily reside in a place not typically used as a place to sleep, such as
Other living situations include,
Although many people understand homelessness to only include people living on the streets, anyone who has precarious or changing housing is experiencing a type of homelessness.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defined homelessness in four different categories...
People become homeless for many different reasons, and our hope is this guide will help to destigmatize people experiencing homelessness. Some of the reasons individuals may experience homelessness include: