The language we use when talking about family homelessness has a profound impact on how the issue is perceived and policies are shaped. At Family Promise, we intentionally use the phrase “experiencing homelessness” to describe families who have lost a home. This phrasing recognizes homelessness is a situation, not a definition or an identity. It humanizes a family’s experience, reduces stigma, and encourages solutions that address the root causes and unique needs of individuals in crisis, especially children. Ultimately, we believe this shift in language can foster more compassionate and effective policies and interventions aimed not just at temporary shelter but also long-term stability and support.
Family homelessness is often called “an invisible crisis.” When families with children lose their homes, they frequently conceal their situation for fear of losing custody of their children. They may avoid seeking help from traditional shelters and services due to fear, shame, safety concerns, and a distrust of institutional systems. Instead, they might double up in unsafe homes, stay in dangerous motels, or sleep in their cars. These temporary and unstable solutions make the crisis harder to identify.
The leading cause of family homelessness in the United States is the lack of affordable housing. For many families, unexpected challenges – like a medical emergency, job loss, or family break up – can lead to losing a home and make finding a new one nearly impossible. To address this crisis effectively, we need to look beyond housing alone and consider the systemic barriers and circumstances families face.
Every family’s story is unique, but one truth remains constant: homelessness does not define them.
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Why Language Matters
The term “experiencing homelessness” is increasingly preferred over alternatives like “homeless,” “unhoused,” or “housing insecure.” It better reflects the temporary and complex nature of homelessness and focuses on the human experience rather than reducing people to their circumstances. It also challenges the misconception that any roof overhead qualifies as a home. By emphasizing the experience of homelessness, we can shift the narrative to acknowledge that losing a home is a situation people move through – not a permanent identity.
This distinction has significant implications for public perception and policy:
- 1. It humanizes the Issue.
Using the phrase “experiencing homelessness” (as opposed to “homeless family”) reframes the conversation. It reminds us that homelessness is a challenge a family is navigating, not an identity they carry. This subtle shift evokes greater empathy and encourages more compassionate responses from the public and policymakers. Words like “homeless,” “unhoused,” or “housing insecure” can feel clinical or detached, focusing solely on housing status instead of recognizing the full humanity of individuals and families. - 2. It shapes public perception.
The language we use influences how society views and responds to issues. By framing homelessness as anexperience, we emphasize that it’s often not a result of personal failure but a reflection of systemic failures – policies and societal structures such as poverty, the lack of affordable housing, or housing discrimination that don’t support all people equally. This nuanced understanding can foster greater awareness of homelessness as a multifaceted problem that alters the way we address the issue. It also underscores the transient nature of homelessness — families often move between shelters, temporary housing, or unsafe situations before finding stability. This reinforces the need for dynamic, flexible solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. - It drives better policy.
When homelessness is seen as a temporary experience, it motivates policies that prioritize immediate and impactful solutions, such as emergency shelters, housing vouchers, and transitional housing programs. The language also highlights the importance of prevention through initiatives like affordable housing, mental health services, and family support systems. It encourages viewing homelessness as a solvable issue with the right resources in place. In contrast, terms like “housing insecurity” can unintentionally downplay the urgency of the crisis, suggesting that intensive or immediate action isn’t necessary.
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The Impact on Children and Families
How we view family homelessness can profoundly affect a child’s future. Experiencing homelessness can have devastating consequences for a child’s development, education, health, and overall well-being. The toxic stress of homelessness can result in a loss of learning capacity, the onset of behavioral health disorders, and long-term health issues.
By framing homelessness as an experience, we prioritize a child’s immediate needs: safety, stability, and support. This perspective also acknowledges the lasting impact homelessness can have on a child’s growth and future opportunities. To truly help, families need solutions that go beyond short-term fixes and are designed to meet their specific needs.
Shifting the language around homelessness is more than semantics – it’s a step toward empathy, action, and meaningful change. We believe individuals, especially those who have experienced homelessness, should use the language that feels most authentic to them. Our aim is to broaden the view of homelessness as a temporary experience, opening the door to solutions that empower families and help them rebuild their lives.
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Call-out Quotes
“Homelessness is a situation, not a definition. It has a ripple effect that reaches into aspects of life people often take for granted. In addition to trying to comprehend the loss of a home, families must navigate everyday logistics that are difficult in a shelter environment. Where does a child do homework? Where does a parent get ready for work? Where can one find privacy and quiet? We want to help people understand the human side of this crisis. It’s not just about a roof overhead, it’s about the safety and stability of a home.”
-Cheryl Schuch, CEO, Family Promise
“When we had our own house, we had security, a place to relax, and privacy. I’d come home knowing I was in my own place. When we lost our house, we lost all that. But as long as I was with my family, I felt like I still had a home. The word ‘homeless’ didn’t define me and my family.”
-Family Promise teen
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Federal Definition of Homelessness
The Department of Housing and Urban Development outlines four categories of homelessness. Individuals or families must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for federal assistance.
- Primary nighttime residence not intended for human habitation
- Living in a shelter
- At risk of losing the primary nighttime residence within 14 days of the date of application for homeless assistance with no subsequent residence and a lack of resources to obtain other permanent housing
- Fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence and has no other residence or the resources to obtain other permanent housing
