A first version of this article was publishedon September 25, 2023, using data from 2022. This version was updated in 2024 with data from 2023 and additional analysis.
Homeless individuals come from every demographic group, but not all groups are equally represented. Black and Native American individuals are more likely to be homeless than are individuals from other racial and ethnic groups. Men and veterans also have higher rates of homelessness than the U.S. average. Homeless people are less likely to be women or under the age of 18.
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The total homeless population increased by about 70,000 people between 2022 and 2023, and the overall rate of homelessness rose 12 percent, from 1.75 to 1.96 per 1,000 people. Every demographic group pictured in Figure 1 saw an increase. About 40,000 additional Hispanic Americans were recorded as homeless in 2023 than in 2022, which increased their homelessness rate from 2.2 to 2.8 people per 1,000. In contrast, about 3,300 additional Asian Americans were homeless in 2023, but because their homelessness rate is the lowest among the demographic groups measured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, this represents a 40 percent jump. These numbers simultaneously show that homelessness in the U.S. is widely experienced, highly unequal across groups, and getting more serious.
Having a roof over your head depends on where you live
The experience of being homeless varies by place. In Los Angeles, most homeless people live out on the streets—a quite different experience than in New York City, where a legal “right to shelter” has almost every homeless person under a roof. The rest of the country is in between (see Figure 2).
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Collecting data on homelessness—imperfectly
Homelessness data in the U.S. come from annual point-in-time (PIT) counts, where local volunteers spread out to count the sheltered and unsheltered homeless population on a single night in January.
Institute staff have been among these volunteers for the last two years, surveying people at warming centers late at night or in libraries during the day. Along with staff from Ramsey County and volunteers from nonprofits that serve immigrants or veterans, for example, we recorded many people’s experiences. But we could not talk to everyone. Some people experiencing homelessness don’t encounter a PIT volunteer; some are suspicious of the survey itself; some do not want to answer questions. As a result, our data are far from complete.
Yet the PIT data do reflect broad trends in homelessness in the U.S. In the same year when PIT counts enumerated larger numbers of people experiencing homelessness, local governments dealing with the consequences of homelessness have pursued a number of legal challenges to the rules governing their treatment of both sheltered and unsheltered homeless people. New York City asked the courts to suspend its right-to-shelter decree because the large number of people seeking shelter surpassed the city’s ability to provide it. A city in Oregon is seeking the right to treat homeless encampments as “unsanctioned camping” by issuing tickets and making arrests.
Continuing to invest in efforts to take stock of homelessness is essential to understand how policies affect the housing security of different groups of Americans.
FAQs
Homeless individuals come from every demographic group, but not all groups are equally represented. Black and Native American individuals are more likely to be homeless than are individuals from other racial and ethnic groups. Men and veterans also have higher rates of homelessness than the U.S. average.
Who is most likely to be homeless in Minnesota? ›
Every night in Minnesota, nearly 5,000 youth experience homelessness and do not have a safe place to sleep. Youth are disproportionately affected relative to their population, making up nearly half of the homeless (46%).
How many people are homeless in Minneapolis? ›
Despite the conceptual and practical hurdles, shelter workers, public employees, and volunteers counted about 5,000 homeless people in the counties containing Minneapolis and St. Paul in January 2023, a number mostly unchanged since 2007.
Which state has the most homeless? ›
Data is based on point-in-time count that occurred during January 2023. In terms of raw numbers, California had the highest number of people experiencing homelessness of any state: 181,399. New York had the nation's second-most with 103,200, followed by Florida with 30,756.
What is the number one cause of homelessness in America? ›
ADDICTION
68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness.
Why are there so many homeless people in Minnesota? ›
There is not enough affordable housing.
The median monthly income of homeless adults is $381 in the Twin Cities and $403 in greater Minnesota, leaving a large affordability gap.
Who has the worst homeless population in the US? ›
California, New York and Florida have the largest homeless populations. Across the three heavily populated states, more than 315,000 people are homeless — nearly half of the identified homeless population in the U.S.
Where do most homeless people go? ›
The homeless living on city streets are the most visible population of homeless, but not all homeless people live on the streets. Many live with family, friends, in a vehicle, or in shelters. Others who do live on the streets may find shelter in parks, on beaches, or even under bridges.
Where do the homeless go in Minneapolis? ›
People Serving People is the largest and most comprehensive emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness in Minnesota and a dedicated leader in homelessness prevention.
Where is the highest homeless population in the world? ›
Philippines, Manila
Manila is the city with the highest estimated rate of homelessness in the world with 3 million homeless. There are a total of 4.5 million homeless people throughout the Phillipines.
The Point in Time (PIT) count is conducted in communities across the country each year to better understand the depth and breadth of homeless in their community. Conducting the PIT count gives a “snapshot” of homelessness from one year to the next. The 2024 PIT count took place on January 24, 2024.
What US state has the most debt? ›
In 2021, the federal state of California had about 541.24 billion U.S. dollars of debt outstanding, the most out of any state. New York, Texas, Illinois, and Florida rounded out the top five states with the most debt outstanding in 2021.
Which city has the least homeless? ›
Texas cities also stand out: Last year, the Houston metropolitan area achieved the lowest rate of homelessness of any major U.S. city, with just 52 people per 100,000 residents experiencing homelessness (compared to 734 people per 100,000 in Los Angeles).
How does Japan deal with homelessness? ›
In Japan, it is almost illegal to beg or sleep on the streets. Cities such as Tokyo are known for their anti-homeless or hostile architecture. Many parks in Tokyo are being locked at night to keep homeless people from sleeping there or hiring security guards to take them out.
Who makes up the majority of the homeless population? ›
Adults not with children make up 80% of the people experiencing homelessness in California at a point in time, followed by families with children (14%) and unaccompanied youth (7%).
Where do homeless people come from? ›
The overwhelming majority of homeless people surveyed were locals, not migrants from far away: 90 percent lost their last housing in California, and 75 percent lost it in the same county where they were experiencing homelessness. Of the 10 percent who came from elsewhere, 30 percent were born in California.
What race has the highest homeless rate? ›
Rates of homelessness offer another view of racial and ethnic disparities. This brief examines how many of each group is homeless per 10,000 people in the general population in a jurisdiction. African Americans. Among the nation's racial and ethnic groups, Black Americans have the highest rate of homelessness.
