The Hidden Signs of Homelessness
We all know what homelessness looks like. People living on the street, in tents, or under overpasses, asking for money, right? These are the most obvious signs of the housing crisis, and you can see them any time you drive through Dallas. Yet the field of sociology reminds us that such issues aren’t always visible. Since societal stigmas often affect what we see and what we miss, people who sleep in cars or are forced to live in others’ houses may be overlooked.
To illustrate this point, I recently met a man who changed the way I see the housing crisis. A few days ago, while exiting the Dallas North Tollway, I noticed a man standing quietly near the corner of the exit ramp. He made no loud plea for help, but simply held a small piece of cardboard with a handwritten message. It read: “Do I have to look like a b_m to be homeless? God bless you.”
He didn’t look homeless. The man was nicely dressed, with his T-shirt tucked in, hair brushed, and a clean pair of shoes. I would never have suspected that when he left, he had no place to go. It made me wonder how many people were just like him, struggling to find a place to sleep each night.
According to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count for Dallas and Collin Counties, 3,541 people were experiencing homelessness on the night of the count—down from 3,718 in the 2024 PIT count. Yet, city staff reported that Dallas 311 service requests related to homeless encampments rose from about 8,000 in 2021 to over 11,000 in the most recent year—about a 45% increase.
From a sociological perspective, hidden homelessness is partly about measurement and partly about stigma. The Point-in-Time (PIT) count that communities report to HUD is designed as a one-night snapshot of people who are sheltered (in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or safe haven) or unsheltered (in places not meant for human habitation). Since it can be difficult to locate people in some unsheltered situations, the actual number of people experiencing homelessness can be larger than reported. People who are “doubled up” with friends or family, or paying for a motel out of pocket, are often outside the PIT’s scope, even though their housing is unstable.
How We Can Help: SHARE
SHARE is a simple way to remember how we can respond (both as individuals and through our Escape Eviction community):
S - Support programs that recognize people who need to frequently live in vehicles or motels as at risk of homelessness.
H - Help by offering to assist with rent or utilities and try your best to connect families to resources before they lose their homes.
A - Assist outreach teams such as Housing Forward that proactively fight the stigma surrounding homelessness. This can help to identify people who would otherwise be overlooked, so that an intervention can happen in time.
R - Raise funds and awareness through campaigns that help people in need pay for transportation, storage, rent, utilities, and other related expenses.
E - Encourage systemic change by fighting not just for affordable housing, but also for the mental health and employment needs of our community.
Together, let’s bring hidden homelessness to light – and work tirelessly to end it.
