FIVE KEY DEFINITIONS

Homeless according to the Department of Education; some At Risk of Homelessness may also qualify, if eviction is imminent
Literally Homeless according to the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; includes only
individuals staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or in unsheltered areas
AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS

PRECARIOUSLY /
TEMPORARILY HOUSED

TRANSITIONALLY
HOMELESS

EPISODICALLY
HOMELESS

CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS

Rents/owns own home with

unsustainable housing
costs

Involuntarily doubled up

Homeless for a short time

(e.g., a few weeks), and
usually only once

Cycles infrequently in and

out of homelessness

Homeless for a year or

more or cycles frequently in
and out of homelessness

Couch surfing
Staying at motels

Nationally, 80% of literal

homelessness

Nationally, 10% of literal

homelessness

Has a disabling condition

Nationally, 10% of literal
homelessness

Who?

Who?

Who?

Who?

Who?

Most Often: Individual

adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;

Most Often: Individual

adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;
Unaccompanied children

Most Often: Individual

adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth;
Unaccompanied children

Most Often: Individual

adults, including veterans;
Families; Youth

Most Often: Individual

adults, including veterans

Rarely: Unaccompanied
Children

Sometimes: Families
Sometimes/Rarely:
Unaccompanied children

Rarely: Youth;
Unaccompanied children

Primary Housing Solution

Primary Housing Solution

Primary Housing Solution

Primary Housing Solution

Primary Housing Solution

Prevention

Prevention/Rapid ReHousing/Shelter Diversion

Rapid Re-Housing

Rapid Re-Housing

Permanent Supportive
Housing

Some situations resolved

with no financial assistance

Some situations resolved

with no financial assistance

Permanent subsidies or
Permanent Supportive
Housing may be needed

Some situations resolved or

sustained with no financial
assistance

Descriptions of who experiences homelessness

Individual adults: Any single adult, over the age of 24
Veteran: Any person having served in the armed forces
Youth: Any person between the ages of 18 and 24
Child: Any person under the age of 18; may be in a family
or on their own (unaccompanied)
Families: A group with at least one person over the age of
18 and one person under the age of 18

Descriptions of primary permanent housing

solutions
Permanent supportive housing: Time-unlimited
housing assistance, with supportive services
Rapid re-housing: Short- to medium-term (from one
month up to two years) rental assistance, with
supportive services; may serve as a bridge to a
permanent housing subsidy, if needed
Prevention: Rental assistance to help retain housing

Residents and People Who Travel

Residents are those who have the intention of staying
in this area (unless access to housing, employment,
reconnecting with family, etc., prompts a move).
People who travel are those whose stays in the area
are intentionally short in duration; increases in this
population are reported in warmer months