Fundamentals of Homelessness: Definitions, Realities & Solutions

Homelessness is often misunderstood, but the facts tell a different story. This free course covers definitions, populations, causes, programs, and solutions — giving you the foundation to see the issue clearly and join the movement to end it.

Updated October 15, 2025

Current Status

Not Enrolled

Price

Closed

Get Started

This course is currently closed

What does it really mean to be homeless — and what can be done about it? Homelessness is one of society’s most misunderstood issues, shaped by myths, politics, and stereotypes. Yet behind the noise are real people, real systems, and real solutions.

This free course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of homelessness, offering clarity, insight, and inspiration for anyone seeking to understand or engage in the movement to end homelessness. You’ll learn how homelessness is defined (both broadly and through HUD’s categories), who experiences homelessness, why people lose housing, what programs exist to respond, and how individuals, agencies, and communities can play a role in creating solutions.

Designed as both a stand-alone primer and a launchpad into deeper training, this course will give you the confidence to cut through misinformation, see the full landscape, and understand the critical work being done to end homelessness.

What You’ll Learn

  • The general and HUD-specific definitions of homelessness
  • HUD’s categories of homelessness and how they are applied
  • The diverse populations impacted by homelessness: adults, families, youth, veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and more
  • Common myths about homelessness and the real reasons people lose housing
  • The range of program types: prevention, emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and beyond
  • How homelessness is addressed by different players: agencies, CoCs, government, housing providers, and concerned citizens
  • How evidence-based solutions are shaping outcomes across communities
  • Where you can fit into the movement to end homelessness

Course Content

What Homelessness Really Means
Defining Homelessness – General Understanding & Misconceptions
HUD’s Categories of Homelessness
Who Experiences Homelessness
Adults, Families, and Seniors
Youth and Young Adults
Veterans
Survivors of Domestic Violence & Other Vulnerable Populations
Why Homelessness Happens
Myths vs. Facts – Breaking Stereotypes
Root Causes of Homelessness – From Poverty to Policy
The Programs That Respond
Homelessness Prevention – Stopping It Before It Starts
Emergency Shelter – Meeting Immediate Needs
Transitional Housing – A Bridge, Not a Destination
Rapid Rehousing – Getting Back to Stability
Permanent Supportive Housing – Long-Term Solutions for Vulnerability
Who’s Involved in Solutions
Front-Line Agencies & Service Providers
Continuums of Care (CoCs) & Coordinated Entry
Housing Providers, Government Agencies & Community Partners
The Role of Concerned Citizens & Advocacy
WRAP-UP
Evidence-Based Solutions – What Works, What Doesn’t
How You Can Be Part of the Solution
Fundamentals of Homelessness Knowledge Check