2025 marked a challenging year for many families we serve at Housing Up due to increased ICE raids that were sweeping across the nation, impacting communities and neighborhoods many of our families call home. As ICE raids and anti-immigration rhetoric continue to disproportionately target the Hispanic community in 2026, resources are becoming even further out of reach for an already underserved population. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are examining the policies and practices that create unique barriers to housing and homeless services for the Hispanic population. These barriers are not abstract; over the past few years, the number of Hispanic people experiencing homelessness has grown rapidly, leaving individuals, families, and children without a safe and stable home. 

Homelessness within the Hispanic Community 

Historically, Hispanic people have experienced lower rates of homelessness compared to other marginalized groups in the US. However in recent years, homelessness within the Hispanic community has surged dramatically. From 2019 to 2024, the number of Hispanic people experiencing homelessness rose by 89 percent, compared to a 36 percent increase in overall homelessness during the same time period. While the reasons for this increase are multifaceted, data shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had devastating impacts on the physical and economic wellbeing of the Hispanic community. In 2020, the unemployment rate for the Hispanic population was the highest of any group, with some surveys reporting that 20 percent of Hispanic households were behind on rent. Even with these alarming increases, the true number of Hispanic people experiencing homelessness is likely greater because many Hispanic individuals are less apt to engage with formal homeless services.

Homelessness within the Hispanic population is often underestimated because Hispanic individuals are much more likely than their non-Hispanic counterparts to rely on informal support networks, staying with family and friends temporarily. This living arrangement, where people share a residence due to loss of housing or economic hardship is known as “doubling-up”. A national study of 2020 US census data revealed that 2.4 percent of all Hispanic individuals were doubled up; a rate three times higher than non-Hispanic individuals. The prevalence of doubling-up in the Hispanic community is largely driven by barriers to resources, including immigration status, English proficiency, and lack of culturally appropriate services. Although some institutions such as the Department of Education include doubling-up in their definition of homelessness, it does not meet the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) current definition of homelessness. This distinction matters because how we define homelessness ultimately determines who is counted, who qualifies for assistance, and who has access to vital services. 

Doubling-Up & Accessing Homeless Services 

When we think of homelessness, we often think of “literal homelessness,” where people are living unsheltered on the streets. HUD continues to define homelessness by this more traditional and narrow understanding, as lacking a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence”. Under this definition, individuals must enter the homeless service system or have been counted on the street during the annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count to be considered homeless. However, we know that certain populations, like families, children, and youth, are more likely to double-up, stay in hotels or in their cars than live directly on the streets. By all intents and purposes, these individuals do not have a safe and stable place to call home, and are under imminent threat of experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Research reveals that doubling-up is the most common living situation before experiencing homelessness. With no legal ownership, people who are doubling-up are at risk of being removed from the residence at any time. 

For individuals who are undocumented or mixed-status families, fear of immigration enforcement is also a main deterrent to accessing programs and services. While many nonprofit organizations and shelters do not require proof of citizenship in order to receive services, people who are unfamiliar with the language and systems of the US may not know this. Additionally, the Trump administration’s rescission of the “Protected Areas” policy in 2025 now allows ICE agents to enter homeless shelters. Prior to the 2025 change, ICE was prohibited from entering “protected areas,” including schools, hospitals, churches, and social services establishments, unless there was an imminent threat of danger. Together, this narrow definition of homelessness and these unique barriers to accessing services leave many Hispanic individuals and families in a system that feels unsafe and inaccessible when they need help most.

Resilience in the Face of Adversity 

Today, Hispanic people in the US are facing incredible challenges to their freedom, safety, and personhood. Despite false claims in the media, undocumented individuals are not eligible for federal assistance programs like the Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly known as Section 8), Medicaid, and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The current atmosphere makes it more difficult for even documented Hispanic individuals and Hispanic Americans to feel like they can safely access the resources that are legally available and they are eligible for. At Housing Up, nearly a third of the 600 low-income and formerly homeless families we serve are Hispanic. We know the sacrifices many parents have made to build brighter futures for their children. Whether they are new to the US or have been here for many generations, immigrants strengthen our communities and help cities like DC thrive. At Housing Up, we will continue working alongside the families we serve to build a better DC where everyone has access to safe, stable housing, and the opportunities they need to transform their lives.