Question
What does chronically homeless mean?
Short answer
HUD defines a chronically homeless person as a homeless individual with a disability, as defined in the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act, who lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or an emergency shelter. That person must have been homeless and living that way for at least 12 months, or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years that add up to 12 months, with each break at least 7 consecutive nights.
Where this answer comes from
Homelessness
On a single night in January 2025, 745,652 people in the United States had no home of their own, and 266,320 of them were sleeping outside. In this section, we look at solutions to homelessness and the people working every day to help restore dignity and a safe place to call home.
Read the full guideMore questions from Homelessness
- What is the difference between homeless and unhoused?
- What is a housing voucher?
- What is fair market rent?
- How short of cheap housing is the country?
- Which states have the fewest affordable homes?
- How many of the poorest renters are severely cost burdened?
- Who wrote the book that changed how people talk about eviction?
- Where can someone facing eviction get help today?
- What can I donate to a family moving into an empty home?
- What is permanent supportive housing?