The quest to secure a home for one's family is a central theme and social issue examined in House of Sand and Fog. The title itself is quite telling, as the dual images of "sand" and "fog" aptly represent the ironies present in the characters' actions as they strive to fulfill this fundamental desire. The three main characters—Kathy Nicola Lazaro, Colonel Behrani, and Lester Burdon—each seek the stability of a home, the sense of family, and a place in society. At the novel's outset, they all face similar circumstances; each is undergoing a significant upheaval, a painful separation from a previous home. Although the details of their situations differ, at the core of each character lies a profound psychological emptiness, rendering them essentially hollow and exceedingly vulnerable. As a result, their decisions, rather than leading to the intended goals of home, family, and security, culminate in a series of disasters reminiscent of ancient Greek tragedies. As the Greeks would say, the sins of the fathers are visited upon the children, and the "house," or the family, collapses as these inherently good yet flawed individuals find their destinies intertwined in this house of fog and sand.

At the heart of the novel lies a collection of social issues and values that shape the theme of the American dream. Positively framed, this dream encompasses a loving marriage, owning a home, having a respectable job where one feels valuable and esteemed, and securing a future for one's descendants. This leads to a rightful sense of pride in one's role both within the family and the community. Alongside these external values, there is a connected set of internal values, including the pursuit of happiness, the longing for love, and the resilience to handle life's challenges.

These are some of the novel's themes; however, their impact stems from how they are intertwined with the lives of five specific individuals. Each person finds themselves inevitably ensnared in the repercussions of their past and present decisions. The house, the house of sand and fog, stands both physically and symbolically at the heart of the story, serving as the setting where their destinies unfold.

The house not only vanishes and reappears in the iconic fog of the San Francisco Bay area, but it also exists within a metaphorical fog of motivations and intentions. Additionally, its foundations are metaphorically built on "sand," a reference to the biblical warning against constructing a house on unstable ground. The book suggests that the foundation of one's life must be firm. One must build or obtain a home grounded in integrity, morality, honesty, and honor. Otherwise, chaos and disaster will ensue. Although Dubus does not express this theme in such a direct manner, the progression of the plot and the experiences of the characters convey it clearly.