Who is homeless?
•An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are:
oSharing housing due to loss of housing or economic hardship.
oLiving in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate housing.
oLiving in emergency or transitional housing.
oAbandoned in hospitals.
oAwaiting foster care.
oLiving in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, or bus or train stations.
oChildren and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations.
oMigratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in the circumstances described above.
The descriptions listed here include new items found in the 2001 McKinney-Vento Act reauthorization.
Some people may not be familiar with the term doubled-up. Be sure to explain this term when describing shared housing. Doubled-up is the sharing of housing with other families or individuals due to a loss of housing (not due to cultural preference or a desire to save money).

Not all persons living in the situations described would be considered homeless. Two major factors to consider when making a determination are the adequacy and permanence of the housing.

Notes:
The designation children and youth refers to individuals age 21 and younger.
Migratory children who are living in the situations described above also may qualify as homeless.

Chapter 3 of the Toolkit discusses identification of homeless children and youth. Appendix B of the Toolkit is a flyer that outlines who is considered homeless.
Appendix C contains a flyer with common signs of homelessness.