While experiencing homelessness can be devastating for the individual, it can also be a deeply impactful crisis for a family. When housing becomes unstable, the effects can spill over into not only the parents’ responsibilities but also the child’s performance in school, physical health, emotional safety, and overall family connection.
With affordable housing shortages and rising prices on everything from gas to groceries, the number of people experiencing homelessness is bound to increase. Unfortunately, a recent report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) shows a sharp increase in rates of homelessness among families.
How experiencing homelessness becomes a family issue
Experiencing homelessness is rarely the result of housing troubles alone. It is a multifaceted issue that doesn’t have just one comprehensive solution because it often stems from one or more key factors, such as a fragile support systems, generational poverty, rising housing costs, prolonged or chronic illness without affordable healthcare coverage, abuse (whether physical, psychological, emotional, or otherwise), substance addiction, and a lack of educational resources. These are just a handful of potential underlying causes.
A sudden financial or health crisis can easily send a family over the edge of “getting by” into complete displacement, especially when one-third of families in the United States have little or no savings cushion. Support networks can also be scarce, leaving families to fend for themselves when they lose access to secure housing.
Experiencing homelessness is not just about the notion of not having a roof over one’s head; it is about the collapse of the basic structure that keeps a family functioning. Once that structure fails, each member of the family feels the impact.
Delicate family systems
The family structure that fails to find a strong footing can foster patterns of relatives experiencing homelessness, even over generations. Factors such as domestic violence, divorce, poverty, mental illness, and a nationwide lack of affordable housing options are all strongly linked to homelessness. When the support system is weak, even a minor disruption, such as catching a cold or a car breaking down, can suddenly become devastating.
Instability within the home environment can sometimes indicate trouble before housing is lost altogether. Families who face repeated setbacks may find communication breaking down. Parents and older children may turn to substance abuse to cope with stressful situations. Consistency in budgeting and parenting can eventually disappear.
The result is an endless cycle that can leave people feeling trapped, leading to the eventual loss of shelter and the sense that the whole family has reached rock bottom.
How experiencing homelessness affects children
Knowing how experiencing homelessness can break down the structure of a family, it should go without saying that it can have a traumatizing impact on children. Children who experience homelessness also tend to have higher rates of illness, school absences, hunger, developmental delays, and behavioral concerns. The impact can be felt even if housing is secured, with many children who were previously homeless reporting symptoms of anxiety and PTSD.
Further compounding the impact on children, caregivers must manage not only their own stress and instability, but also constant concern about how homelessness will impact their children. The stress of providing children with their basic needs and protecting them while experiencing homelessness can quickly wear down any caregiver, leading to strained mental health and a diminished parenting capacity.
Prevention that is family-centered
Nonprofits and organizations that help provide support to those experiencing homelessness can focus on family-centered prevention strategies because they have a better understanding of the impact of homelessness on the family unit. These strategies can include connecting families with resources such as rental assistance, childcare, mental health care, job training, and domestic violence intervention. The goal is to intervene during crisis moments before they lead to homelessness.
A family-centered prevention approach acknowledges the unique needs of both caregivers and children in the homelessness equation. While they may need different forms of support, the family unit as a whole can simultaneously benefit from each type of support provided. Once common disruptions to family stability are resolved, instances of homelessness are likely to begin decreasing.
Seeking low-cost interventions
The current support systems for families experiencing homelessness include emergency shelters, urgent health care, crisis services, and public assistance programs. However, studies show that a different approach may be more effective and offer additional cost savings.
Rapid re-housing is a program that helps families leave shelters and find permanent housing. A study conducted by HUD shows that this approach helps people leave shelter faster and find permanent housing at higher rates than other intervention programs. As a bonus, rapid re-housing programs are more affordable than transitional housing programs or emergency shelter options.
Experiencing homelessness is not just an issue of housing, but one that impacts public health, education, relationships, and the strength of the family unit. When families have access to support systems and affordable re-housing options, children expereince greater stability, caregivers can regain their footing, and communities benefit as a whole.
About the Author
— Tori Lyon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jericho Project, a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness through permanent supportive housing and comprehensive, person-centered services. She has been with the organization since 1996, joining as Director of Development before advancing to Associate Executive Director in 1999, Executive Director in 2005, and CEO in 2016. With more than 30 years of experience in the supportive housing sector, Lyon has led Jericho’s strategic planning, fundraising, housing and program development, and executive management. Under her leadership, the organization has developed more than 550 units of permanent supportive housing, launched a nationally recognized Veterans Initiative, and significantly expanded its reach—more than quadrupling the number of people served since 2010. Prior to joining Jericho Project, Lyon served as Grants Manager at Bailey House, a supportive housing organization serving individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Her career has been defined by a commitment to evidence-based solutions that address homelessness at its roots while delivering measurable, long-term outcomes for individuals and families. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and is an active voice in coalitions and initiatives advancing supportive and affordable housing policy.
