After a long day of being out, you finally get to come home. Drop the keys into the little jar right beside the shoe rack that holds your go-to shoes, sit down to take them off, and head straight to wash away the day. Nothing out of the ordinary, it was just another day to wind down. But there is just something so comforting about being back in your own bubble, giving you that reset and soothing feeling you didn’t realize you needed.
You might lie down, doom scroll on social media, watch your favorite Netflix series you’ve been keeping up with every night, cook something nice for yourself, or honestly do nothing at all. Whatever you feel like doing! The decision is yours. You have your own space, your own routine, and the freedom to just be yourself without any extra thought.
But have you ever stopped to think about what it would be like if you didn’t have a space of your own to come home to?
When homelessness comes to mind, the first thing people think of is not having a roof over their heads. However, the aspect of privacy is often overlooked. Having a place to sleep is one thing, but having a place where one can feel safe, protected, and be yourself is something entirely different.
When Privacy Isn’t An Option
Think about all the little things you spend your time doing throughout your day without even realizing that they are privileges. Taking a shower, changing clothes, sleeping, or having a private call are the things that people don’t think much of. For those who are experiencing homelessness, on the other hand, these everyday activities can be a challenge.
Finding a space in an emergency shelter doesn’t necessarily mean having a space that is comfortable and safe to spend time in. Sleeping areas can get noisy and unfamiliar surroundings can create discomfort, especially for those who have already been through difficult experiences.
A 2025 research study published in The Gerontologist looked into the trauma of older adults who have experienced homelessness. The research raises awareness on the importance of having a secure and safe environment that better supports those who have experienced trauma.
And it’s something worth considering. Imagine having a tough day and nowhere to go to where you can completely be alone. Nowhere to cry, collect peaceful thoughts, and do absolutely nothing without potentially being watched.
Privacy doesn’t mean just hiding something. Most of the time, it’s just about having a moment to yourself.
Having Shelter Doesn’t Necessarily Mean It’s A Home
There is no doubt that emergency shelters are crucial. They provide people immediate protection and access to services that can make a real difference.
But does having a place to sleep mean that they feel at home?
Well, the two aren’t necessarily the same.
Home isn’t just a concrete structure or physical space. It’s also a place where one can control their own surroundings, make their own decisions, and make sure that their belongings are protected and secure.
A research study published in Health Expectations looks into how those who experienced homelessness describe the meaning of home. The results showed how home can mean much more than physical shelter but stability, personal space, and a sense of feeling belonged.
When homelessness is brought up, the majority of the time we focus on the number of beds in shelters or how many more people can be helped. While these numbers are still important, we forget the feelings and experiences of those living in the shelter.
If there is a roof over our heads but lack of security and personal privacy, are all the needs regarding having a home truly being addressed?
What Could Be Done Differently?
“Fixing” homelessness does not mean opening more shelters and believing that it will solve the problem. Having said that, just improving the availability of shelters is not enough but also considering the design and quality of these spaces should be a part of the conversation.
Something as simple as having private or semi-private sleeping areas could help with personal space. Accessible showers, bathrooms, and laundry facilities could make these living conditions a lot more comfortable and dignified. And for personal belongings, having secure storage could help people feel more control over their lives.
These ideas aren’t all theoretical. There are different types of shelters already in Portland. According to the Shelter To Housing Continuum, some shelters do have shared sleeping areas, including traditional congregate shelter and village type of shelter that offer a different types of environment.
This proves that offering shelter doesn’t always have to look the same. They also raise the question whether Portland residents would welcome the idea of expanding more shelters that more prioritizes personal space and privacy instead of just only focusing on how many people a shelter can accommodate.
The U.S. The Interagency Council on Homelessness emphasizes the importance of dignity and respect in emergency shelters as it helps them transition people towards permanent housing.
Of course, we have to recognize that shelters run with limited resources, including limited money and available space. It’s not always easy to create additional facilities or current site designs. This makes it difficult to balance privacy with the amount of people a shelter can serve.
Still, these difficulties should not stop communities from looking for better ways to help those who are experiencing homelessness. The issue is not necessarily about the choice between expanding assistance and improving quality. Instead, it’s about finding ways to make the most out of the available resources without overlooking those who may depend on this help.
People who have experienced homelessness should have a voice in these decisions. A 2024 report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute explores how people that have experienced homelessness can be more involved in housing policies. Someone who has stayed in some type of emergency housing might notice issues that are not obvious to the people that are designing or funding these programs.
Not every improvement requires major renovations or building new facilities. Their experiences can help communities better understand where improvements and funding can actually make the biggest difference. After all, people who will use these services are the ones that experience these conditions daily.
Something Worth Thinking About
Think back to the familiar routine of getting home after a long day. Keys in the jar, shoes off, and the rest of the evening is all yours. A bit of an ordinary part of life that makes you forget about the freedom that comes with it.
Homelessness is complex, and truthfully, there is no single solution that can solve every problem. Affordable housing, healthcare, financial support, or decent job opportunities all can contribute to helping build long term stability for people, but in the meantime, the conditions that people experience while living in emergency shelters shouldn’t be overlooked.
The next time your community proposes a center or housing program, try to take a look closer at what they are trying to do. Ask yourself if the shelter meets the people's needs when it comes to experiences rather than the number of beds or funds put into it. Do they really have a say in the decisions that affect their own lives daily?
Providing a roof over someone’s head is a crucial step in addressing homelessness but having shelter does not mean having somewhere that feels like home.
A shelter can offer a place to sleep, but can it offer even a small sense of comfort that comes with having a place to call your own?
Curious about how Portland is approaching different types of shelters? Take a look at the City of Portland’s Shelter to Housing Continuum and see what options are being considered.
SOURCES - Read Further
The Gerontologist (2025) - Research on trauma among older adults experiencing homelessness.
Health Expectations - Research exploring the meaning of home among those who have experienced homelessness. Read The Study.
City of Portland. Shelter to Housing Continuum - Provides information on different shelter types and housing options in Portland. Learn More Here.
U.S. Interagency Council On Homelessness - Key considerations for Implementing Emergency Shelter. Read the guidance here.
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2024) - Research on involving people with lived experience in homelessness policy and services. Read report here.
