Frequently Asked Questions

Please reach us at lh@homelessfl.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.

There are many definitions, some of which are listed on the Definition of Homelessness page. A quick definition provided by the Homeless Hub defines homelessness as “an extreme form of poverty characterized by the instability and inadequacy of income.”

There is a contact you tab on the website but if these don’t work for you or you have any trouble with them, you can call us at 954-792-4000, write to us at P.O. Box 030177, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33303-0177.

Our main office is located at 950 S. Pine Island Road, Plantation 33324, suite 1064 but there is not always someone in the office so it is best to call ahead if you can.

Several advocates, including those experiencing homelessness argue that being called homeless leaves them with less dignity and they prefer other terms when possible. Some suggestions are “unsheltered”, or even, “the man with the blue sweater” when identifying people rather than call out the indignity of homelessness.

The Homeless hub lists three categories: absolute homelessness, Concealed homelessness and at risk of homelessness. The government also has three categories of homelessness although they are substantially different: Episodic, Chronic and Hidden. There should probably be another category for those people who are homeless once in their lives and never again. Many people experience days, weeks and even months couch surfing until they find a real place to live.

This is a tough question because of all the different definitions out there. One study suggested that the number of homeless is about 10% of all people living below poverty level (Burt and Laudan, 2001). For the most part, government agencies try to minimize the number of homeless people reported because it makes them look better. For example, they will only count homeless people on one day. You simply cannot find all the people who are homeless in one day.

According to the U.S. Census, there are about 334,000,000 people living in the U.S., and 11.6% of them live below the poverty line. Now, the poverty line is another issue where definitions make it seem like people are doing better than they are. While the poverty line varies from state to state, The U.S. poverty rate is far below what is necessary to support an individual or family.

The table below shows the federal poverty guidelines for household sizes by region for 2022 and 2023:

2022 Federal Poverty Level

Number of Persons in Household 48 States Plus D.C. Alaska Hawaii

1 $13,590 $16,990 $15,630

2 $18,310 $22,890 $21,060

3 $23,030 $28,790 $26,490

4 $27,750 $34,690 $31,920

5 $32,470 $40,590 $37,350

6 $37,190 $46,490 $42,780

7 $41,910 $52,390 $48,210

8 $46,630 $58,290

For those folks who live below the poverty line it makes sense that it could be very difficult to stay housed. Since the U.S. contains 344,000,000 individuals, and 11.6 of those people live below the poverty line (344,000,000 x16.9) we find about 5,654,146,053.051 living below the poverty line. The Urban League and Martha Wells suggests that 10% of those people experience homelessness. This is a very conservative estimate nevertheless, doing the math (5,654,146,053 x 10%) is

The state of Florida has a population of 21,780,000, about 13.1 of the population lived below the poverty line,

  • Broward County – Total Population 1.9 million
  • Dade County – Total Population 2.663 million
  • Palm Beach County – Population 1.499 million

Sources & Footnotes

  • Department of Housing and Urban Development
  • 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress
  • www.picturethehomeless.org
  • www.homelesshub.ca
  • webarchive.urban.org
  • census.gov

© Coalition to End Homelessness 2026. All Rights Reserved.

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