Anyone without reliable shelter is considered homeless.
People experiencing homeless can be individuals, children, or families, and there is a wide range of reasons why someone might be homeless, including:
- Can’t afford housing
- Working, but in poverty
- Unable to find work
- Personal hardship
- Physically or mentally ill
Developing a personal safety net is the first line of defense and there are a number of resources that can help:
- Housing and Homeless Services with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
- The Tennessee page with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Tennessee Housing Development Agency
- Housing within Reach housing database
- Homelessness among LGBTQ Youth