For This Family, It’s Not ‘Couch Surfing,’ It’s Homelessness

对于这个家庭来说,这不是“沙发冲浪”,而是无家可归

The Opinions

新闻

2024-02-28

6 分钟
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  • [MUSIC PLAYING]

  • Linda Villarosa: I'm Linda Villarosa.

  • I'm a contributing writer at 'The New York Times Magazine,'

  • where I cover the intersection of health, social justice, and race.

  • When people think of homelessness,

  • they think of living in a shelter

  • or living on the street,

  • but doubling up is a form of homelessness that goes under the radar.

  • It's living with other people,

  • living with another family or friends, but you don't want to be.

  • You wish you had a home of your own.

  • You might think of it as couch surfing,

  • but for families who are doing it, it's much more serious than that.

  • And it's not recognized by the federal government, HUD, Housing and Urban Development,

  • the agency that should be handling homelessness.

  • That means many people and many families that are living in doubled up situations

  • often can't get benefits or apply for services.

  • Linda Villarosa: OK, so just don't look at this.

  • This is just my very low–tech, recording device, my iPhone.

  • Tell me, are you —