The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper: Season 3, Episode 21

3 - 21: The Hidden Homeless

"The Hidden Homeless" provides an intimate portrait of the forgotten victims of New York City's worst housing shortage in half a century – homeless youth. In 2024, 1 in 8 New York City public school students experienced housing instability — approximately 146,000 students. This episode traces the daily lives of some of the 70% of people in shelters who are families with children, most led by single, working women who earn too little to afford the city's high costs of rent, groceries, and childcare. As affordability continues to be a key issue in the NYC mayoral election, "The Hidden Homeless" delivers perspectives directly from the public schools, shelters, and streets most impacted by this crisis, showcasing the constant grit and determination of young families and teens trying to change their circumstances against near-impossible odds.