BY RUTH COFFMAN, Chief Operations Officer, Catholic Charities of Central Colorado

You Can’t Always See Who’s at Risk

One of the challenges in homelessness services is that many people have a fixed image of who experiences homelessness: a single, older man with health concerns, perhaps including a substance use disorder or mental health condition. We may also assume he has been homeless for a long time.

In technical terms, someone who has been homeless for an extended period may be described as “chronically homeless.” But that is not the whole picture, or even the most common one.

Homelessness Doesn’t Always Look the Way We Expect

In 2025, people experiencing chronic homelessness made up an estimated 25–30% of the unhoused population. People living in families with children also make up a significant share, though families can be less visible. Some stay in cars or temporarily double up with friends or relatives who may not have the space or resources to support them long-term. HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress

As I mentioned in my last blog, homelessness is not limited to older men or people who have been without housing for a long time. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that more people entered homelessness for the first time in 2024. It points to inadequate incomes, high housing costs, the end of pandemic assistance, rising inflation, and slower income growth as pressures making it harder for people to stay housed. It also notes that many people experiencing homelessness work, but their wages may not cover housing costs.

Preventing Homelessness Before It Happens

So, while there is much to do for people already experiencing homelessness—a topic I’ll return to in my next blog—there is also important work to be done to prevent homelessness, especially for families. Catholic Charities provides rental assistance to help people avoid losing their housing. Individuals and families facing a financial emergency, such as a missed paycheck or medical crisis, can contact our rental assistance program. We screen applicants to confirm they meet income guidelines and that, after receiving help with this month’s rent, they are likely to be able to pay the following month’s rent. We collect the required documentation—much of our rental assistance is funded through government grants—and work with the landlord to issue payment.

Research shows that losing housing can have serious effects, particularly on children. One study found that families facing eviction who had adolescent boys were less likely to be taken in by friends or relatives than families with girls. Researchers have also documented harmful effects of eviction on children, including adolescent boys. . National Bureau of Economic Research. Preventing a crisis before it escalates can be more humane and cost-effective, while helping protect children’s stability and well-being. I see rental assistance as more than a way to prevent homelessness; it can also help support children’s educational and life outcomes.

What the Research Tells Us

Researchers have been able to study homelessness prevention because many programs have more applicants than available funding. In a Chicago study, Notre Dame researchers used unpredictable changes in funding availability to compare people who sought help when funds were available with those who sought help when they were not. Callers seeking assistance when funding was available were less likely to enter a homeless shelter. A separate randomized study in Santa Clara County found that emergency financial assistance reduced homelessness among the families and individuals studied.

Researchers estimated that every $1 spent generated $2.47 in social and fiscal benefits.

That estimate is not money returned to a program; it reflects the projected value of benefits to participants and the community. University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame researchers also examined outcomes beyond shelter entry. In Chicago, they found that people who received assistance were less likely to be arrested for violent crime and less likely to seek medical care for an assault. The study did not find a significant change in overall healthcare use. University of Notre Dame

At Catholic Charities, we believe our community and our clients deserve thoughtful, high-quality assistance grounded in evidence. I’m grateful that we’ve been entrusted with providing this program.