“Homeless” is the broad category.

According to HUD’s official definition, a person is considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
This includes people who are:

1. Living in emergency shelters
2. Living in transitional housing
3. Temporarily staying with others (couch-surfing) because they have no other place
4. Living in motels/hotels paid for by charity or government programs
5. Fleeing domestic violence without a safe alternative
6. Exiting an institution (hospital/jail) with no place to go

“Unsheltered” is a subcategory of homeless.HUD defines unsheltered homelessness as people living in a place not meant for human habitation, including:

• Streets
• Cars
• Tents
• Parks
• Abandoned buildings
• Under bridges
• Encampments