GITNUXREPORT 2025

Female Homelessness Statistics

Female homelessness is rising sharply, driven by domestic violence and systemic inequality.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Women make up approximately 39% of the homeless population in the United States

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Female veterans account for 9% of the homeless veteran population

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Approximately 28% of homeless women are pregnant or have young children

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Single women with children are among the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population

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Female youth account for approximately 15% of the homeless youth population

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53% of homeless women are between the ages of 25 and 54

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Women with children account for about 42% of the homeless children in the U.S.

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The average age of homeless women is approximately 37 years old

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Lesbian and bisexual women are disproportionately represented in homelessness statistics, with a higher prevalence than heterosexual women

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About 21% of homeless women have children under 18 living with them

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Female homeless individuals have a higher percentage of untreated mental health issues compared to male homeless individuals

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Female homelessness is increasing faster than male homelessness in many urban areas, with 10-15% annual growth in some regions

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Female-headed households represent nearly 60% of all homeless family units

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Females comprise approximately 41% of the homeless veteran population, indicating a significant number of women veterans experiencing homelessness

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In rural areas, female homelessness accounts for a significant proportion of overall rural homelessness, often underreported

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Aging homeless women face unique health challenges, with an average age of 55+ among chronically homeless women

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In many cities, single women with children are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population, with increases of up to 20% annually in some regions

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The majority of homeless women are of minority racial or ethnic backgrounds, with African American women representing approximately 40%

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Unemployed women represent a higher percentage of the homeless population compared to unemployed men, at about 44%

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In some regions, the number of homeless women has increased by over 30% in the past decade, indicating a worsening crisis

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Nearly 42% of homeless women are victims of domestic violence

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About 57% of homeless women have experienced household substance abuse

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Homeless women are more likely than men to experience sexual and physical violence

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Nearly 60% of homeless women report having experienced eviction or housing loss prior to homelessness

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Female homeless individuals are more likely than males to have experienced childhood trauma or adverse childhood experiences

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Women experiencing homelessness are twice as likely to have experienced partner violence compared to housed women

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Female homeless youth often leave foster care or juvenile detention settings due to abuse or neglect

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Female homeless populations tend to be more transient, with many experiencing episodic homelessness rather than chronic, permanent homelessness

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Approximately 18% of women in homeless shelters report having experienced trafficking or exploitation, many due to homelessness vulnerabilities

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The percentage of homeless women who have experienced childhood abuse is significantly higher than that of housed women, at approximately 60%

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Many homeless women report feeling unsafe in emergency shelters, leading to a preference for staying in unsheltered or hidden locations

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Approximately 38% of homeless women have experienced incarceration at some point in their lives, increasing their vulnerability

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About 18% of homeless women live in shelters, while the rest are unsheltered or in transitional housing

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Only around 20% of women experiencing homelessness have access to permanent housing solutions

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Domestic violence shelters often serve hundreds of women daily, many of whom are fleeing homelessness

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Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to live in overcrowded or unsafe living conditions, including substandard housing, compared to men

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Women experiencing homelessness often face barriers to employment due to lack of access to childcare, transportation, and stable housing, impeding their economic recovery

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The lack of affordable housing is a primary driver of female homelessness, with over 70% of homeless women citing unaffordable rent as a cause

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Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience health issues like mental illness and substance use disorders

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Nearly 25% of women experiencing homelessness have a disability

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About 35% of homeless women are unemployed, which is higher than the general female unemployment rate

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Female homeless populations are more concentrated in urban areas, with over 70% living in cities

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Women experiencing homelessness have a higher rate of chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes, compared to the general female population

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About 14% of homeless women are veterans, highlighting the need for targeted veteran services

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Women experiencing homelessness often have higher rates of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders than men

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Women with histories of incarceration are at increased risk of homelessness, with estimates suggesting up to 25% of homeless women have criminal justice system involvement

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Homeless women are less likely than men to access healthcare services regularly, leading to unmet health needs

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Females account for an increasing proportion of the homeless population in military communities, partly due to deployment and reintegration challenges

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Homeless women are more likely to experience extreme poverty, with over 50% living below the federal poverty line

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Female homelessness impacts disproportionally marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ women, who are overrepresented among homeless populations

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Women experiencing homelessness are more likely than men to participate in community or peer-led support programs, which help them rebuild stability

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Female homelessness is often underreported due to social stigma and fear

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Female homelessness is often linked to systemic issues such as inequality, discrimination, and lack of social safety nets, which perpetuate the cycle

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 39% of the homeless population in the United States
Nearly 42% of homeless women are victims of domestic violence
About 57% of homeless women have experienced household substance abuse
Female veterans account for 9% of the homeless veteran population
Approximately 28% of homeless women are pregnant or have young children
Single women with children are among the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population
Female youth account for approximately 15% of the homeless youth population
53% of homeless women are between the ages of 25 and 54
Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience health issues like mental illness and substance use disorders
Female homelessness is often underreported due to social stigma and fear
Nearly 25% of women experiencing homelessness have a disability
About 35% of homeless women are unemployed, which is higher than the general female unemployment rate
Women with children account for about 42% of the homeless children in the U.S.

Despite comprising nearly 40% of the homeless population in the United States, women’s struggles with domestic violence, health issues, and systemic inequities often go unnoticed in the face of rising homelessness—revealing an urgent crisis demanding focused attention and action.

Demographics and Age

Women make up approximately 39% of the homeless population in the United States
Female veterans account for 9% of the homeless veteran population
Approximately 28% of homeless women are pregnant or have young children
Single women with children are among the fastest-growing segments of the homeless population
Female youth account for approximately 15% of the homeless youth population
53% of homeless women are between the ages of 25 and 54
Women with children account for about 42% of the homeless children in the U.S.
The average age of homeless women is approximately 37 years old
Lesbian and bisexual women are disproportionately represented in homelessness statistics, with a higher prevalence than heterosexual women
About 21% of homeless women have children under 18 living with them
Female homeless individuals have a higher percentage of untreated mental health issues compared to male homeless individuals
Female homelessness is increasing faster than male homelessness in many urban areas, with 10-15% annual growth in some regions
Female-headed households represent nearly 60% of all homeless family units
Females comprise approximately 41% of the homeless veteran population, indicating a significant number of women veterans experiencing homelessness
In rural areas, female homelessness accounts for a significant proportion of overall rural homelessness, often underreported
Aging homeless women face unique health challenges, with an average age of 55+ among chronically homeless women
In many cities, single women with children are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population, with increases of up to 20% annually in some regions
The majority of homeless women are of minority racial or ethnic backgrounds, with African American women representing approximately 40%
Unemployed women represent a higher percentage of the homeless population compared to unemployed men, at about 44%
In some regions, the number of homeless women has increased by over 30% in the past decade, indicating a worsening crisis

Demographics and Age Interpretation

With women comprising nearly 40% of the homeless population—often as single mothers, veterans, and women of color—the rising tide of female homelessness underscores a gendered crisis that demands urgent, gender-sensitive solutions amidst alarming growth rates and complex health struggles.

Experiences and Trauma

Nearly 42% of homeless women are victims of domestic violence
About 57% of homeless women have experienced household substance abuse
Homeless women are more likely than men to experience sexual and physical violence
Nearly 60% of homeless women report having experienced eviction or housing loss prior to homelessness
Female homeless individuals are more likely than males to have experienced childhood trauma or adverse childhood experiences
Women experiencing homelessness are twice as likely to have experienced partner violence compared to housed women
Female homeless youth often leave foster care or juvenile detention settings due to abuse or neglect
Female homeless populations tend to be more transient, with many experiencing episodic homelessness rather than chronic, permanent homelessness
Approximately 18% of women in homeless shelters report having experienced trafficking or exploitation, many due to homelessness vulnerabilities
The percentage of homeless women who have experienced childhood abuse is significantly higher than that of housed women, at approximately 60%
Many homeless women report feeling unsafe in emergency shelters, leading to a preference for staying in unsheltered or hidden locations
Approximately 38% of homeless women have experienced incarceration at some point in their lives, increasing their vulnerability

Experiences and Trauma Interpretation

The staggering realities of female homelessness—marked by high rates of domestic violence, childhood trauma, and exploitation—reveal a cycle deeply rooted in vulnerability where trauma begets homelessness, and homelessness, in turn, exacerbates women's perilous plight.

Housing and Shelter

About 18% of homeless women live in shelters, while the rest are unsheltered or in transitional housing
Only around 20% of women experiencing homelessness have access to permanent housing solutions
Domestic violence shelters often serve hundreds of women daily, many of whom are fleeing homelessness
Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to live in overcrowded or unsafe living conditions, including substandard housing, compared to men
Women experiencing homelessness often face barriers to employment due to lack of access to childcare, transportation, and stable housing, impeding their economic recovery
The lack of affordable housing is a primary driver of female homelessness, with over 70% of homeless women citing unaffordable rent as a cause

Housing and Shelter Interpretation

Despite constituting a significant portion of the homeless population, women remain disproportionately underserved and vulnerable, with affordable housing shortages and systemic barriers conspiring to keep them fleetingly close to safety but never quite within reach.

Population Subgroups and Vulnerabilities

Women experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience health issues like mental illness and substance use disorders
Nearly 25% of women experiencing homelessness have a disability
About 35% of homeless women are unemployed, which is higher than the general female unemployment rate
Female homeless populations are more concentrated in urban areas, with over 70% living in cities
Women experiencing homelessness have a higher rate of chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes, compared to the general female population
About 14% of homeless women are veterans, highlighting the need for targeted veteran services
Women experiencing homelessness often have higher rates of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders than men
Women with histories of incarceration are at increased risk of homelessness, with estimates suggesting up to 25% of homeless women have criminal justice system involvement
Homeless women are less likely than men to access healthcare services regularly, leading to unmet health needs
Females account for an increasing proportion of the homeless population in military communities, partly due to deployment and reintegration challenges
Homeless women are more likely to experience extreme poverty, with over 50% living below the federal poverty line
Female homelessness impacts disproportionally marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ women, who are overrepresented among homeless populations
Women experiencing homelessness are more likely than men to participate in community or peer-led support programs, which help them rebuild stability

Population Subgroups and Vulnerabilities Interpretation

Despite accounting for a growing and disproportionately marginalized segment of the homeless population, women face a complex web of health, employment, and social barriers—underscoring that homelessness among women is not just a statistic, but a stark call for targeted, gender-sensitive solutions.

Systemic Issues and Causes

Female homelessness is often underreported due to social stigma and fear
Female homelessness is often linked to systemic issues such as inequality, discrimination, and lack of social safety nets, which perpetuate the cycle

Systemic Issues and Causes Interpretation

The hidden plight of female homelessness, perpetuated by stigma and systemic failures, underscores the pressing need to dismantle societal barriers rather than overlook those most vulnerable.