The Reality of Family Homelessness

In a recent New York Times article, Brian Goldstone exposes a critical flaw in how we define and measure homelessness in America: "many families remain invisible, existing in a kind of shadow realm: deprived of a home, but neither counted nor recognized by the federal government as 'homeless.'"

For families staying in motel rooms, sleeping in their cars, or doubling up with relatives, this invisibility can have devastating consequences. Because these families don’t meet the federal definition of homelessness used by agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), they are often excluded from crucial housing assistance and services. Research suggests that when we account for these overlooked populations, the actual number of people experiencing homelessness is at least six times higher than official counts suggest.

The Working Homeless: A Growing Crisis

Many families who experience homelessness are working families. Goldstone’s article highlights that homelessness is not confined to those who are unemployed. Increasingly, families with full-time jobs are still unable to afford stable housing due to stagnating wages and skyrocketing rents. Parents working long hours in essential industries—retail, healthcare, childcare—are still left without a place to call home.

At Path Home, we see this reality every day. Families come to us after exhausting every other option—couch-surfing, relying on the kindness of friends, or spending nights in unsafe conditions. They are experiencing homelessness, yet too often, they don’t “count.” And now, as funding for local and national safety net services are at an increased risk of being eliminated, families on the edge of homelessness have even fewer resources to turn to.

The Emotional and Psychological Toll on Families

Homelessness doesn’t just take a physical toll—it has deep emotional and psychological impacts, especially on children. Living in a constant state of uncertainty and stress is an Adverse Childhood Experience, or ACE, which leads to long-term negative health effects like lung disease, heart disease, and depression. Without stable housing, children’s futures are put at risk before they even have a chance to thrive. Families in this situation face impossible choices every day: paying rent or buying food, sleeping in a car or risking an overcrowded shelter that might not be safe for their kids.

The Need for Policy Change and Community Action

We know that homelessness is not an individual failure—it is the result of policies and systems that have failed families. Stagnant wages, skyrocketing rents, racial inequities, and childcare shortages are just a few of the barriers pushing families into instability. Yet, because these struggles don’t always fit into narrow definitions of homelessness, they remain unseen by the systems meant to help.

Without accurate data that shows the true number of kids and families without homes, funding, and resources will continue to bypass the families who need them most. Now more than ever, our community’s support is essential. Together, we can build a future where every family has a place to call home.