How Many People Are Homeless In America? (37 Homelessness Statistics)

How many people are homeless in America?

In this article, you’ll learn about:

how many people are homeless in America
how our government defines homelessness
homeless statistics
how to interpret the homelessness statistics data
homeless population by state
what causes homelessness in America

Let’s dig in.

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Homelessness Statistics

Last year, ~582,462 people were homeless in America.
18.2% of those experiencing homelessness are unsheltered on any given night.
California, New York, and Florida have 48% of the overall homeless population.
9.3% of people experiencing homelessness are veterans.
~43,000 veterans experienced homelessness on any given night.
17.2% of the people experiencing homelessness are under 25 last year.
4.2% of people experiencing homelessness are unaccompanied minors.
14.1% of people experiencing homelessness are chronically homeless.
5.2% of people experiencing homelessness self-identifies as LGBT.
37% of people experiencing homelessness are employed.
11.1% of people experiencing homelessness have a serious mental illness.
17.3% of people experiencing homelessness are victims of domestic violence.

The Definition of Homelessness

Homelessness refers to the state of not having a stable, permanent place to live.

Legal Definition

The HUD defines this as people who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

This includes people living in a shelter, in transitional housing.

Or in places not meant for human habitation like streets or cars.

Practical Definitions Of Homelessness In America

The three types of homelessness in America are:

Chronic homelessness
Temporary homelessness
Hidden homelessness

Chronic homelessness refers to individuals who:

have been homeless for at least a year
have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years

These individuals often have a disabling condition

13% of the homeless population are chronically homeless individuals.
10% are experiencing long-term homelessness.

Temporary homelessness refers to a situation where a person is without stable housing for a short period.

This is often due to a crisis like job loss or domestic violence.

Definition Of "Hidden Homelessness"

Hidden homelessness refers to situations where people:

do not have stable housing
are not visible in public spaces

This includes people who are:

couch surfing
staying with friends or family temporarily
living in other types of temporary accommodations

Last year, the most significant increase in the homeless population was among:

individuals in transitional housing (5%)
persons living in encampments (3.2%)
individuals living in unsheltered locations (2.7%)

Statistical Overview Of Homelessness In America

Last year, there were about 582,462 homeless people in the United States.

This was the highest number recorded since data collection began.

Of these individuals, 72% were adults and 28% were part of families with children.

The age breakdown shows that 6.9% of homeless individuals were between the ages of 18 and 24.

Gender is a significant factor in homelessness.

Men made up 68% of the homeless population.

Women, transgender individuals, and those identifying as nonbinary or questioning also had notable representation.

In terms of ethnicity, 50% of the homeless population identified as White.

But it’s important to note that most groups of color experienced higher rates of homelessness.

For instance, 48 out of every 10,000 Black people were homeless, compared to 11 out of every 10,000 White people.

The population of chronically homeless individuals made up 22% of the total.

These are defined as people with disabilities who have experienced long-term or repeated incidents of homelessness,

Veterans accounted for 6%, and unaccompanied youth under 25 made up 5%.

LGBTQ community members experienced particularly high rates of homelessness.

On any given night, about 348,630 people had shelter.

But 40% of the homeless population lived in places not suitable for human habitation, such as:

city sidewalks
vehicles
abandoned buildings

The majority (51%) of homeless individuals were unsheltered.

And the rate was even higher (62%) among those who were chronically homeless.

Families with children were the least likely to be unsheltered, with 11% living in such conditions.

State By State Homelessness Analysis

Here is a brief overview of the states with the highest and lowest rates of homelessness:

The top five states with the highest rates of homelessness are California, Vermont, Oregon, Washington D.C., and Hawaii. Mississippi has the lowest rate.
California has the most people experiencing homelessness, totaling 171,521.
In Vermont, 98% of homeless people were sheltered, while in California, 67% of homeless people were unsheltered.

State	Total Homeless	Homeless per 100k	Homeless Households	Veterans	Young Adults
Alabama	3,351	66	236	292	320
Alaska	1,949	266	161	111	176.00
Arizona	10,979	147	745	910	587
Arkansas	2,366	77	132	238	336
California	161,548	415	7,044	10,980	11,993.00
Colorado	9,846	168	719	1,068	545
Connecticut	2,905	80	305	195	196
Delaware	1,165	113	116	65	42
Florida	27,487	121	2,171	2,472	1,450
Georgia	10,234	93	815	801	596
Hawaii	6,458	451	539	505	222
Idaho	2,315	117	243	201	188
Illinois	10,431	84	1,105	690	609
Indiana	5,625	82	544	572	258
Iowa	2,647	83	227	149	146
Kansas	2,449	83	209	189	122
Kentucky	4,011	89	313	447	211
Louisiana	3,173	70	170	360	188
Maine	2,097	150	283	116	125
Maryland	6,360	103	603	490	290
Massachusetts	17,975	258	3,766	917	480
Michigan	8,638	86	1,022	599	489
Minnesota	7,940	139	1,028	297	685
Mississippi	1,107	38	69	72	56
Missouri	6,527	106	707	488	477
Montana	1,545	136	136	205	82
Nebraska	2,404	122	201	175	151
Nevada	6,900	215	183	674	1,285
New Hampshire	1,675	119	206	113	84
New Jersey	9,662	104	993	551	496
New Mexico	3,333	158	246	257	216
New York	91,271	468	15,091	1,270	2,978
North Carolina	9,280	86	767	907	417
North Dakota	541	69	51	49	72
Ohio	10,655	91	999	676	643
Oklahoma	3,932	97	300	280	322
Oregon	14,655	347	1,147	1,438	1,590.00
Pennsylvania	13,375	103	1,569	857	737
Rhode Island	1,104	101	111	92	26
South Carolina	4,287	80	275	462	216
South Dakota	1,058	115	76	66	66
Tennessee	7,256	102	558	679	366
Texas	27,229	89	1,919	1,806	1,355
Utah	3,131	91	260	211	163
Vermont	1,110	172	128	87	105
Virginia	5,957	68	652	447	258
Washington	22,923	293	1,751	1,585	1,911
West Virginia	1,341	76	79	137	89
Wisconsin	4,515	76	592	359	200
Wyoming	612	105	37	51	81
United States	569,334	139	51,599	36,658	34,696

Which State Has The Most Homeless?

California has the most homeless people at 161,548.

But New York has the most homeless people per 100,000 residents.

New York has 468 homeless people per 100,000 residents.

California has 415 in comparison.

What State Has The Lowest Homeless Rate?

North Dakota has the least amount of homeless people at 541.

Mississippi has the lowest homeless rate at 38 homeless people per 100,000 residents.

Homelessness In California

The California homeless population reached 161,548 people last year.

More than two-thirds of these individuals are unsheltered, meaning they sleep:

on the streets
in encampments
in their cars

This is the highest percentage of unsheltered homeless people in any state in the U.S.

Half of the unsheltered homeless people in the U.S. live in California, about 115,500 people.

Looking at the demographics, 36% of homeless people in California are considered “chronically homeless.”

This means they have a disability that significantly impedes their ability to live independently.

And they have been without housing for a consecutive year or on at least four occasions within a three-year period.

The other 64% are categorized as “experiencing short-term homelessness.”

Of the total homeless population, 80% are adults who do not have children.

And an estimated 40% of those are aged 50 and older.

Families with children make up 14% of the homeless population.

And 7% are unaccompanied youth, defined as being under age 25.

A significant contributing factor to homelessness in California is the cost of housing.

There are high levels of poverty and drug addiction in other areas of the U.S. with lower housing costs.

But the homelessness rates are five times higher in West Coast cities like:

San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego

California has the second-lowest number of housing units per capita in the U.S.

And there is an estimated shortage of one million homes affordable to the lowest income renters.

Studies suggest that even moderate decreases in rents could lead to significant declines in homelessness.

Homelessness In New York

New York has the second-highest homeless population in the United States, with 91,271 homeless people.

The majority are in New York City, where the number of homeless people reached its highest point since the Great Depression.

However, the last two years have seen a decrease in homelessness, thanks to the creation of safe havens.

These are specialized shelters with a streamlined process for getting people into permanent housing.

As of November 2022, there were 67,150 homeless people in New York City.

The total number of homeless people sleeping in the city’s main municipal shelter system was 75,540.

This includes:

16,692 homeless families
23,697 homeless children
27,465 homeless adults in families

The number of homeless single adults was 24,378, with 19,399 men and 4,979 women.

Factors Contributing To Homelessness In America

Let’s dig deeper into what contributes to the US homeless population.

Economic Factors

Economic factors contribute to how many people are homeless in America in several ways.

Unemployment: People who lose their jobs might not have enough savings to cover housing costs. Without a steady income, they can’t afford rent or mortgage payments.
Poverty: People living in poverty often struggle to meet basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. If most of their income goes to food and other necessities, they might not have enough left for housing.
High Cost of Living: In areas where living costs are high, even people with jobs might struggle to afford housing. If wages don’t keep up with rising rents, people can become homeless.
Lack of Affordable Housing: There’s a shortage of affordable housing in many parts of America. When people can’t find housing within their budget, they risk becoming homeless.
Income Inequality: Wide gaps between the rich and the poor can lead to homelessness. When wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few, many others are left struggling to afford basic necessities, including housing.

Social Factors

Social factors also contribute significantly to the number of homeless people in the US.

Domestic Violence: People often become homeless when they leave their homes to escape abusive environments. Without safe and stable alternatives, they may end up without shelter.
Discrimination: This can manifest in various forms like racial, gender, or orientation-based biases. Discrimination can hinder individuals from finding stable housing or employment, increasing their risk of homelessness.
Lack of Support Systems: People without family or community support can face increased difficulties during hard times. When there’s no safety net to fall back on, homelessness becomes a greater risk.
Mental Health Issues and Substance Abuse: These issues can lead to job loss, fractured relationships, and other complications. The resulting instability can often lead to homelessness.

Health Factors

25% of the homeless population have a severe mental illness.
17% of the homeless population have a substance abuse disorder.

Health factors greatly contribute to homelessness in America, like.

Mental Health Issues: People with untreated mental health conditions can face challenges in maintaining a job or stable housing. Their condition might lead to loss of employment or strained personal relationships, often resulting in homelessness.
Addiction: People struggling with substance abuse may spend a significant portion of their income on drugs or alcohol, leaving less money for housing. Addiction can also lead to job loss and broken relationships, which can result in homelessness.

In addition, lack of access to healthcare can make these situations worse.

Individuals with mental health issues or addiction need proper treatment and support.

Without this help, avoiding or escaping homelessness can be hard.

Mental health issues can make maintaining a job or housing difficult.

Addiction can lead to job loss and financial problems.

Both can result in homelessness.

Lack of healthcare can make these issues worse.

It can intensify the link between these health problems and homelessness.

Solutions To Address Homelessness In The US

Let’s look at programs that help reduce how many people are homeless in America.

Federal Programs

One key federal initiative is the Housing First program.

This program prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness.

The idea is simple: give people housing first, then address other issues like:

job training
mental health support

Studies show that Housing First is effective in reducing the number of homeless people in America.

Especially among those with mental health issues or addictions.

Another federal effort is the Continuum of Care (CoC) program.

The CoC provides funding to local groups that help homeless people find housing and offer other supportive services.

This program has helped many people transition out of homelessness.

State Programs

States and cities also play a big role in addressing homelessness.

In Utah, for example, a state-level version of Housing First has nearly eradicated chronic homelessness.

Cities like Houston and Philadelphia have created coordinated entry systems to manage resources for homeless people more efficiently.

These systems help ensure that the most vulnerable people receive help first.

FAQs About How Many People Are Homeless In America

Here are other questions we found about how many people are homeless in America.

What Percentage Of The US Is Homeless?

Last year, 18 out of every 10,000 people in the US experienced homelessness.

This equates to about 0.18% of the population or roughly 582,462 people.

Which US City Has The Most Homeless?

The city with the most homeless people in the US is the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area in California.

In the Santa Cruz-Watsonville area of California, there are 2,250 homeless individuals.

Given the total population of 273,000, this means that ~0.82% of the population is homeless.

What Is The Main Cause Of Homelessness In America?

The main cause of homelessness in America is a lack of affordable housing.

Other significant factors include poverty, unemployment, and low wages.

Personal circumstances that can also lead to homelessness are:

mental illness
substance abuse
domestic violence

It’s important to note that these factors often interact in complex ways.

And a person’s risk of becoming homeless can be influenced by a combination of these issues.

References

Statista. (2022). Homeless people in the U.S. 2007-2022.
Wisevoter. (2023). Homeless Population by State 2023.
Local Today News. (2023). The number of homeless people in Georgia has been increasing since 2020.
The Georgia Sun. (2023). How does Georgia’s homeless rate compare to the rest of the country?

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