“How many People are Homeless?”

No one knows exactly how many people are homeless. Even estimates aren’t very accurate.  While counting people in shelters and soup kitchens is helpful, it causes us to underestimate the extent of homelessness in the United States.

 Two different methods used to measure homelessness are counting people who are homeless on a given day or week (point-in-time counts), and examining the number

of people who are homeless over a period of time (period-prevalence counts) (Coalition for Homeless).  Point-in-time count studies only give you a small look

at homelessness, because the people who are counted are homeless only at a particular time.  Some of these people will find jobs and housing, and won’t be homeless any longer, while others will become homeless later.  In one certain week of 1988, 500,000-600,000 people were found homeless in shelters, soup kitchens, and on the streets (NCH).  Period-prevalence counts also won’t be accurate.  Many people will not be counted because they are the “hidden homeless”.  Some people will stay in places that won’t be searched.  For instance, some will sleep in cars, tents, boxes, or caves.  Other homeless people aren’t on the streets.  They even have homes!  These people double-up with family members or relatives.  I mean, most people don’t choose to have ten people in a two-bedroom apartment.  These people won’t be counted.  A survey taken from 1985-1990 showed that seven million people across the United States were homeless at some point during that time (NCH).