Understanding the Full Range of Housing Insecurity, From Housing Insecure to Homeless

When people hear the word “homeless,” they often picture someone sleeping on the street or in a shelter. While that’s one very real part of the story, it’s not the whole picture. Housing instability exists on a spectrum, and for many people, the struggle starts long before they’re unhoused.

At AHA, we work with individuals and families at every stage of this spectrum, from those living in temporary or overcrowded conditions to those navigating chronic homelessness. Understanding the range of housing insecurity is critical for making sure no one falls through the cracks just because they don’t fit a narrow definition of who needs help.

What Is Housing Insecurity?

Housing insecurity is a broad term that refers to any situation where a person’s housing is unstable, unsafe, unaffordable, or unsustainable. You don’t have to be living on the street to be experiencing housing insecurity.

Here are some examples:

• Staying with friends or family in overcrowded or temporary situations

• Living in a motel or vehicle due to lack of other options

• Being behind on rent or facing an eviction notice

• Having to frequently move due to rising rent or unsafe conditions

• Living in housing that is unsafe or not suited to your health needs

• Making trade-offs between housing costs and basic needs like food or medication

Housing insecurity often gets overlooked because it's less visible. But it causes real harm to those experiencing it: stress, anxiety, instability, and a constant sense of uncertainty.

The Housing Instability Spectrum

Let’s break it down into a spectrum that ranges from housing insecure to truly homeless:

1. Housing Insecure (At Risk)

These are people who are technically housed, but their situation is fragile. They may be:

• One paycheck away from missing rent

• Living in a unit without a lease

• Facing eviction or behind on utilities

• Living in a location they cannot afford long-term

• Staying in a place that is physically unsafe or unhealthy

This group is often excluded from services because they don’t meet strict definitions of homelessness. But they are extremely vulnerable and without support, they may quickly fall into deeper instability.

2. Unstably Housed

These individuals are not on the street, but they’re not in stable housing either. They may be:

• Couch surfing with friends or relatives

• Living in hotels or motels

• Exiting institutions (hospital, prison, rehab) without a secure place to go

• Staying in temporary or transitional housing with time limits

• Sharing housing in overcrowded or unsustainable ways

People in this stage are often on a rotating cycle of temporary fixes. There’s no long-term plan, and the risk of becoming homeless is high.

3. Homeless

This refers to people who are:

• Sleeping outdoors, in tents, or encampments

• Living in their cars or in abandoned buildings

• Staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing

• Cycling through shelters or returning to the street after temporary placements

This group often gets the most attention in public conversation, but many of them got here after months or years of being housing insecure. It didn’t happen overnight.

Why This Spectrum Matters

When we view homelessness as a binary (either you’re homeless or you’re not) we miss the opportunity to intervene earlier.

By the time someone is living unsheltered, their situation is often more complicated. They may be dealing with trauma, health issues, job loss, or relationship breakdowns. Preventing that level of crisis requires us to pay attention before someone loses their home completely.

At AHA, we believe early support matters. We don't wait until someone hits rock bottom to take their needs seriously. We offer support at all stages because everyone deserves safe, stable housing, regardless of where they fall on the spectrum.

The Overlooked Impact of Housing Insecurity

Even before someone becomes unhoused, housing insecurity can have a major impact on their health, well-being, and ability to move forward.

• People experiencing housing insecurity are more likely to:

• Delay medical care or skip medications

• Miss work due to transportation issues or frequent moves

• Pull children out of school or change schools multiple times

• Experience chronic stress, anxiety, and mental health symptoms

• Be taken advantage of in unsafe or exploitative housing arrangements

This stress doesn’t disappear just because someone has a roof over their head. It’s about stability, not just shelter.

What We Can Do About It

Understanding the full range of housing insecurity helps us create better solutions.

Here's how AHA approaches it:

• We meet people where they are. Whether someone is couch surfing, living in a car, or trying to hold onto their apartment, we don’t wait until the situation becomes catastrophic.

• We advocate for flexible eligibility criteria. Many of the most vulnerable people are excluded from help because they aren’t “homeless enough.”

• We offer prevention support. Eviction prevention, help with documentation, navigating benefits, and referrals to community resources can keep people from falling deeper into instability.

• We educate partners and the public. Housing insecurity doesn’t always look like sleeping outside. We work to expand understanding and compassion across systems.

At AHA, we recognize that stability looks different for everyone. And we believe support should be available across the spectrum, not just after someone loses everything.

If you or someone you know is experiencing housing insecurity in any form, reach out. You don’t have to wait until it gets worse to ask for help.