number matters

Is homelessness decreasing in the US? Or is the make-up of those who experience homelessness shifting? And how reflective are one-time counts of our homeless situation? Children and families most commonly experience residential instability in doubled-up contexts that are difficult to predict, identify, or respond to. So, while HUD numbers may be down (which is good), this decrease does not mean that the issue of homelessness is any less significant in the US.

Thousands of schools, as a matter of fact, are seeing the issue in more pronounced ways than ever before. We need to innovate across education, social service, and private sectors to better identify and serve these children and families.