The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) homeless definition excludes most of those living in doubled-up situations. Living doubled-up means the person or family is living in another’s home. This Article argues that HUD’s interpretation of the HEARTH Act’s definition of homeless is incorrect based on legislative history and modern understandings of homelessness. The federal response to homelessness has historically evolved in response to crises. In the 1980s and late 2000s, the country faced national economic and housing crises, prompting the government to address national homelessness. While the understanding of homelessness in the 1980s was driven by healthcare disparities, the 2009 housing crisis forced the federal response to evolve to address homelessness as the complex economic and social issue it is. In light of this evolution in federal understandings of homelessness and the similarities between the doubled-up and those in shelters, this Article argues that HUD wrongfully excludes most of the doubled-up and should therefore amend its definition to include them.