Families Experiencing Homelessness

According to the 2010 AHAR, “A typical homeless family consists of a mother and two children,” and people in families experiencing homelessness are more likely to be headed by a woman, to identify as minorities, and are significantly less likely to have a disability.ⁱ”

On a given night in January 2010ⁱⁱ:

• 241,951 persons in families were homeless in shelters, transitional housing programs, or on the streets (37.2% of all homeless persons)

Over the course of a year (October 2009-September 2010)ⁱⁱⁱ:

• 567,334 persons in families were homeless in shelters or transitional housing programs (35.2% of the total sheltered homeless population)
• Of the total number of sheltered households (rather than separate people), 168,000 households were families (14.0%)
• Among homeless families in shelters, women comprise 77.9% of adults^iv

In 2009, the National Center on Family Homelessness analyzed state-level data and found that nationwide, 1.5 million children experience homelessness in a year^v.

According to 1996 data from the NSHAPC^vi:

• 32% of people who were homeless were women
• Among these women, 84% were members of homeless families
• About 200,000 children were members of homeless families^vii
• Among these children, 42% were under six years old^viii

Gender, Age, Race/Ethnicity

Among all sheltered persons in families over the course of a year (October 2009-September 2010)^ix:

• 77.9% were female
• 22.1% were male

• 59.3% were under age 18
• 23.2% were ages 18-30
• 16.2% were ages 31-50
• 1.2% were ages 51-61
• Less than 1% were 62 and older

Among all families residing in shelters or transitional housing programs over the course of a year (October 2009-September 2010):

• 42% were African-American
• 31% were White, Non-Hispanic
• 12% were White, Hispanic
• 8.5% were Multiple Races; 6.4% were Other Single Race

According to 1996 NSHAPC data^x:

• 43% are African-American
• 38% are White, Non-Hispanic
• 15% are Hispanic
• 3% are Native American

Serious Mental Illness, Traumatic Stress & Substance Use

• Over 92% of mothers who are homeless have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime^xi xii.
• About two-thirds of homeless mothers have histories of domestic violence.
• Compared to low-income housed women, mothers who are homeless have^xiii:
• Three times the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (36%)
• Twice the rate of drug and alcohol dependence (41%)
• About 50% of homeless mothers have experienced a major depression since becoming homeless^xiv.
• Among homeless children, within a single year:
• 97% move, many up to three times^xv.
• 22% are separated from families^xvi.
• 25% witness violence^{xvii xviii xix xx}.
• Children who are homeless experience higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems^xxi xxii than low-income housed children^xxiii.

View the HRC's additional factsheets:

• Individuals Experiencing Homelessness
• Individuals Experiencing Chronic/Long-Term Homelessness
• Individuals Experiencing Short-Term Homelessness
• Families Experiencing Homelessness
• Unaccompanied Youth Experiencing Homelessness
• Elders/Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
• Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
• Incarcerated People and Homelessness