Doubled Up Homelessness

Homelessness is a growing social problem with negative impacts on people’s health and life chances. Unfortunately, data on who experiences homelessness—and where—are imperfect, with scholarship consistently documenting the limits of traditional methods, from consistent undercounts to systematic exclusion of some forms of homelessness. One key methodological challenge is estimating the extent of doubled-up homelessness, defined as staying with friends or family temporarily because of housing loss or economic hardship (U.S. Department of Education, 2001). Estimates of doubling up can help communities understand the full spectrum of homelessness. Further, because most people who enter literal homelessness were last staying in a doubled-up situation, data on this form of housing insecurity can inform strategies for homelessness prevention. The purpose of this project is to pilot a dashboard or similar online resource that allows users to visualize and download data on doubled-up homelessness.