World Homeless Day 2025: Housing Is More Than Shelter
Every year on October 10th, we recognize World Homeless Day – a day to raise awareness about the urgent issue of homelessness, challenge misconceptions, and to support practical solutions that ensure everyone has a safe place to call home.
At Threshold CoC, we believe that homelessness is preventable. Behind every person experiencing homelessness is a complex story. We often hear clients share how they experienced a job lost, a medical crisis, a rent increase, or a lack of support after aging out of foster care. Too often, these are challenges that could be addressed with timely intervention, housing support, and compassionate care. These are not personal failures on the part of those experiencing homelessness; they are failures on behalf of our systems nationwide.
We know that housing saves lives. But it does much more than protect people from the elements. The ripple effects of stable housing are far-reaching:
Health improves.
People without homes face drastically higher rates of illness and death, on average, four times faster than housed individuals. When people are housed, chronic conditions can be managed better, mental health stabilizes, and emergency room visits drop sharply.
Children thrive.
Families that receive rental assistance see better outcomes for children, including improved school attendance, behavior, and long-term well-being. A stable home means a quiet place to sleep, study, and grow.
Communities save money.
Studies show that every dollar invested in housing assistance is often offset by savings in emergency healthcare, policing, and shelter costs. For example, in one Los Angeles County study, housing assistance reduced system-wide public costs by up to 80% within 18 months.
Work and income increase.
When people aren’t worried about where they’ll sleep, they can focus on employment. Data shows that housing increases the likelihood of securing a job and maintaining an income.
Homelessness becomes less cyclical.
Programs like Housing First have proven that stable housing significantly reduces returns to homelessness—even years later.
These outcomes are not accidental – they’re the result of strategic, evidence-based interventions.
Especially on World Homeless Day, we remember that homelessness is not just a statistic – it is a reality faced by millions of people across the globe, including right here in our own communities.
We see World Homeless Day as more than a moment of reflection. We see today as a call to action, but we need your support to:
Support local housing programs
Advocate for affordable housing policy
Donate or volunteer with organizations in our CoC
Challenge stigma and misconceptions about homelessness
Every action matters. Real change begins when we listen, understand, and work together. A home is not a luxury. It’s a human right. With the right investments and the will to act, we can build a future where no one is left without a place to call home.