On one night in 2025, at least 745,652 people were homeless in the United States. Although this is down 3.3% from last year, it is still an impressive figure. Chronic homelessness will increase by 2% nationwide to an estimated 155,750 people (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2026).
Individuals and families face homelessness for many reasons: disability due to unemployment, serious illness or death of a family member, loss of income due to other causes, or chronic poverty. Having a place to call home is important for the basic needs of shelter, stability, safety, and having an address for work, school, and services. The ramifications of homelessness for the individual and community are wide-ranging, and the psychological impact of experiencing homelessness at any age is profound.
When people are displaced from their homes, the nature of the places they will occupy in the future (car, street, camp, shelter) results in their separation from society to a great extent, even absolute. The nature of their communication with others and the ability to determine their own movement can change significantly. They may be forced to occupy positions over which they have limited control, compromising not only their autonomy but also their sense of self (Mayock, 2023).
Trauma it is known that it occupies the main place in the history of many young people who become homeless. In the context of homelessness, help is rarely available to overcome trauma, and past trauma can act as a powerful force in the present—not to mention the trauma associated with losing or not having a home. Flashes, vigilance, self harmand drugs or alcohol abuse is often a manifestation of trauma that can shape or perpetuate youth’s experience of homelessness (Parr, 2024).
In a large systematic review of 205 studies on how people experiencing homelessness are stigmatized and discriminated against (Canham et al., 2024), the results showed a myriad of ways that stigma and discrimination may have further psychological consequences that are harmful or detrimental to one’s senses. People surveyed feel unwelcome in public places or restricted in where they can go. They felt as though they were treated as a homogenous group, all using substances or having mental illness.
Discrimination and stigmatization can be based on age or racial or ethnic affiliation. sex minorities add to negative stereotypes of others and increase the psychological weight of feeling homeless.
Unemployment is a chronic stressor that is with you day and night. The impact is compounded when already affected individuals end up in homelessness. Problems in the stress response system can cause agitation and irritability disbelief even those who try to help.
It is important to understand that a home is not just a physical space, although that is important. A central aspect of a home is a sense of security. If we are lucky enough to feel safe at home, it can serve as a refuge. It can be comforting just by thinking about it, knowing it’s there. If the house a stress or a dangerous place—like an abusive home or a shelter or the street—we can’t find the quiet physical and mental space we need.
Most of our days are spent in public spaces, for which we construct and present a public identity, changing it subtly or drastically depending on the context. We all need a space that allows us to let go of our defenses and feel that our true selves can emerge and be accepted and safe. Without physical safety, mental safety is impossible, and both are necessary for health and well-being.
