Balanced News: Why this widespread form of homelessness is often overlooked and unsupported

Advocates and researchers are drawing attention to the overlooked issue of “doubled-up” homelessness, where individuals live in temporary arrangements with friends or family. This form of homelessness is often invisible but potentially larger than street homelessness. People living doubled-up frequently move between homes and lack access to support and social services. While the federal government does not consider doubled-up individuals as experiencing homelessness, some local and state governments have expanded their definitions to include them, broadening access to resources. Studies show that doubled-up homelessness disproportionately affects minority groups, and there is a lack of research on the impact of financial assistance for this population.