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Definitions
These terms, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, are used in research and writings related to homelessness.
Homeless
Referring to a person who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
Emergency Shelter
A facility with the primary purpose of providing temporary shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
Homeless Parenting Youth
People under age 25 who are experiencing homelessness and are the parents or legal guardians of one or more children (under age 18) who are present with or sleeping in the same place as that youth parent, where there is no person over age 24 in the household.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (under 18)
People in households with only children who are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their episode of homelessness, and who are under the age of 18.
Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH)
A housing model designed to provide assistance (project- and tenant-based) and supportive services on a long-term basis to people formerly experiencing homelessness. HUD’s Continuum of Care program, authorized by the McKinney-Vento Act, funds PSH and requires that the client have a disability for eligibility.
Sheltered Homeless
Refers to people who are staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens.
Chronically Homeless People in Families
Refers to people in families in which the head of household has a disability and has either been continuously experiencing homelessness for one year or more or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years where the combined length of time homeless on those occasions is at least 12 months.
Continuums of Care (CoC)
Local planning bodies responsible for coordinating the full range of homelessness services in a geographic area, which may cover a city, county, metropolitan area, or an entire state.
Unsheltered Homelessness
Refers to people whose primary nighttime location is a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for people (for example, the streets, vehicles, or parks).
People in Families with Children Experiencing Homelessness
People who are experiencing homelessness as part of a household that has at least one adult (age 18 and older) and one child (under age 18).
Rapid Rehousing
A housing model designed to provide temporary assistance to people experiencing homelessness, moving them quickly out of homelessness and into permanent housing.
Transitional Housing Programs
Provide people experiencing homelessness a place to stay combined with supportive services for up to 24 months.
Chronically Homeless Individual
An individual with a disability who has been continuously experiencing homelessness for one year or more or an individual who has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years where the combined length of time homeless on those occasions is at least 12 months.
Individual Experiencing Homelessness
A person who is not part of a family with children during an episode of homelessness. Individuals may be experiencing homelessness as single adults, unaccompanied youth, or in multiple-adult or multiple-child households.
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (18-24)
People in households without children who are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their episode of homelessness, and who are between the ages of 18 and 24.
Point-in-Time Counts
Unduplicated one-night estimates of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless populations. The one-night counts are conducted by CoCs nationwide and occur during the last week in January of each year.
Safe Havens
Provide temporary shelter and services for hard-to-serve individuals.