This guide is a collection of resources to help build your understanding of local, national, and international homelessness. 

• In no way does this guide summarize all the resources available related to housing and homelessness. We welcome feedback and suggestions for this resource guide. Please email your suggestions to mcquade@merrimack.edu.

In the United States, homelessness has become increasingly visible on our streets and in our media headlines. Everyone thinks they understand the issue, and many believe they know how to solve it. But they’re often wrong even about the most basic facets of the problem. The key to addressing homelessness is understanding the foundational causes and rethinking everything we think we know. Dr. Marisa A. Zapata is an associate professor of land-use planning at Portland State University and director of PSU’s Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative, an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to reducing and preventing homelessness with an emphasis on communities of color.

Find Shelter - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Provides information about housing, shelter, health care, and clothing resources in communities across the country. Click on one of the categories, enter your location, and click Search to get started.

National Runaway Safeline 
The mission of the National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is to help keep America’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. NRS provides education and solution-focused interventions, offers non-sectarian, non-judgmental support, respects confidentiality, collaborates with volunteers, and responds to at-risk youth and their families 24 hours a day through phone, email, and live chat. 

National Domestic Violence Hotline : 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

National Human Trafficking Resource Center : 1-888-373-7888
Or text “HELP” or “INFO” to BeFree (233733)

Locate a Runaway and Homeless Youth Program
Locate the nearest Family and Youth Services Bureau-funded emergency shelter, transitional living program or street outreach program for runaway or homeless youth.

Locate a Health Center
Locate the nearest Community Health Center, including Health Care for the Homeless Programs.