On a single night in 2023, the number of people without a home in America surpassed 650,000, a stark 12% jump from the previous year that signals a growing national crisis.
Key Takeaways
- On a single night in January 2023, approximately 653,104 people experienced homelessness across the United States, marking a 12% increase from 2022.
- The homeless population in the US increased by 18.1% from 2022 to 2023, the highest on-record increase since data collection began in 2007.
- In 2023, 232,323 sheltered individuals were counted in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe haven programs nationwide.
- In 2023, individual adults comprised 65% of the homeless population.
- Black Americans made up 32% of the homeless population in 2023, despite being 13% of the general population.
- Hispanic/Latino individuals were 31% of homeless in 2023, up from prior years.
- Housing loss due to economic hardship affects 51% of first-time homeless.
- Lack of affordable housing is cited as the primary cause by 70% of Continuums of Care.
- Evictions contribute to 13% of new homelessness entries annually.
- 65% of unsheltered lack access to running water.
- Homeless individuals die 30 years earlier than average lifespan.
- 26% of homeless have HIV/AIDS, vs 0.4% general population.
- Housing First reduces ER visits by 50%.
- HUD's Continuum of Care program funded $3B in 2023.
- Section 8 vouchers prevent 100,000 homelessness yearly.
Homelessness surged in the United States, reaching a record high with over 650,000 people affected.
Causes and Risk Factors
- Housing loss due to economic hardship affects 51% of first-time homeless.
- Lack of affordable housing is cited as the primary cause by 70% of Continuums of Care.
- Evictions contribute to 13% of new homelessness entries annually.
- Poverty affects 76% of homeless individuals prior to homelessness.
- Rising rents increased 20% from 2020-2023, exacerbating homelessness.
- Natural disasters displaced 1.5 million into temporary homelessness yearly.
- Mental illness leads to 20-25% of homelessness cases.
- Substance use disorders precede 38% of homelessness episodes.
- Domestic violence causes 25% of family homelessness.
- Job loss accounts for 15% of homelessness triggers.
- Foster care exit leads to 20% of youth homelessness.
- Incarceration release contributes to 15-20% of adult homelessness.
- Medical debt and costs cause 10% of homelessness.
- In 2023, 40% of homeless cited doubling up failures as cause.
- Foreclosures peaked in 2010, correlating with 20% homelessness rise.
- COVID-19 eviction moratorium end led to 30% family homelessness spike.
- Low wages: minimum wage covers only 40% of fair market rent.
- 7.2 million extremely low-income renters face severe cost burden.
- Discrimination in housing affects 20% of Black renters.
- In California, rent burden over 50% for 30% of households.
- Systemic racism contributes to 2x Black homelessness rate.
- Aging out of systems causes 25% of transitional age youth homelessness.
- Trauma history in 90% of homeless mothers.
- Gambling and other addictions affect 10% of cases.
- Pandemic unemployment spiked homelessness by 10% in 2021.
- 50% of homeless have disabilities limiting employment.
- Child welfare involvement in 30% of homeless families.
Causes and Risk Factors Interpretation
The statistics paint a stark portrait of American homelessness not as a simple moral failing, but as a predictable and brutal national calculation where poverty, high rents, and systemic cracks in housing, healthcare, and justice reliably funnel the vulnerable from precarious living into the streets.
Demographics
- In 2023, individual adults comprised 65% of the homeless population.
- Black Americans made up 32% of the homeless population in 2023, despite being 13% of the general population.
- Hispanic/Latino individuals were 31% of homeless in 2023, up from prior years.
- Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander had the highest homelessness rate at 129 per 10,000 in 2023.
- American Indian/Alaska Native rate was 67 per 10,000 homeless in 2023.
- White non-Hispanic individuals were 40% of homeless population in 2023.
- Females comprised 33% of sheltered homeless and 59% of unsheltered in 2023.
- Males were 59% of sheltered and 41% of unsheltered homeless in 2023.
- In 2023, 4% of homeless were age 55 and older, up from 3% in 2007.
- Children under 18 made up 9% of homeless individuals in families in 2023.
- Unaccompanied youth (18-24) were 4.2% of total homeless in 2023.
- LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than straight peers.
- In 2023, 5% of homeless were veterans, down 52% since 2009 peak.
- Domestic violence survivors represent up to 38% of homeless women.
- In families, 76% of homeless parents were female in 2023.
- Black children are 2.6 times more likely to experience homelessness.
- 40% of homeless adults have a severe mental illness.
- 25% of homeless are substance abusers, often co-occurring with mental illness.
- In 2023, 28% of homeless had serious mental illness per HUD data.
- Foster care youth are 2.4 times more likely to become homeless.
- In California, 44% of homeless identified as Hispanic/Latino in 2023.
- NYC homeless were 52% Black in 2023 PIT.
- 30% of LA homeless were over 50 years old in 2023.
- In 2023, 7% of homeless were unaccompanied minors under 18.
- Transgender individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience homelessness.
- In 2023, 35% of homeless youth identified as LGBTQ+.
- Native Americans are overrepresented at 2-3% of homeless vs 1% population.
- 50% of homeless women report fleeing domestic violence.
Demographics Interpretation
While the numbers lay out a brutal statistical landscape—from the glaring racial disparities that betray deep systemic failures to the terrifying vulnerabilities of youth, veterans, and survivors—they collectively scream that homelessness is less an individual misfortune and more a national portrait of who we fail to protect.
Health Impacts
- 65% of unsheltered lack access to running water.
- Homeless individuals die 30 years earlier than average lifespan.
- 26% of homeless have HIV/AIDS, vs 0.4% general population.
- Mental health untreated in 45% of homeless adults.
- Emergency room visits 5x higher for homeless.
- 38% of homeless have alcohol dependence.
- Frostbite and hypothermia kill 700 homeless annually.
- Tuberculosis rates 20x higher among homeless.
- 25% of homeless children have asthma vs 10% housed.
- Suicide rates 3.5x higher for homeless veterans.
- Dental care access denied to 70% of homeless.
- Hepatitis C prevalence 13% in homeless vs 1% general.
- Chronic pain affects 50% of homeless population.
- Hospital stays average 4 days longer for homeless patients.
- 80% of homeless report food insecurity.
- Violence victimization 13x higher for homeless women.
- 30% of homeless have PTSD.
- Maternal mortality higher due to homelessness exposure.
- Vision impairment untreated in 40% of homeless seniors.
- 60% of homeless smoke, increasing cancer risk.
- Diabetes complications higher without insulin access.
- In LA, 55% of homeless have chronic health conditions.
- NYC homeless hospitalizations cost $150M yearly.
- 90% lack primary care physician.
- Opioid overdoses kill 1 in 5 homeless annually.
- Skin infections from street living affect 70%.
- 35% have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Homeless youth HIV rate 6x national average.
- 50% of homeless families have child with disability.
- Medicaid enrollment covers 40% of homeless.
- $2.5B annual healthcare costs for homeless.
Health Impacts Interpretation
It's a damning portrait of a crisis that is systematically dismantling human bodies, one preventable condition at a time, while treating them as a line item in a budget spreadsheet.
Prevalence and Counts
- On a single night in January 2023, approximately 653,104 people experienced homelessness across the United States, marking a 12% increase from 2022.
- The homeless population in the US increased by 18.1% from 2022 to 2023, the highest on-record increase since data collection began in 2007.
- In 2023, 232,323 sheltered individuals were counted in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and safe haven programs nationwide.
- Unsheltered homelessness affected 264,100 people on a single night in 2023, representing 40% of the total homeless population.
- California accounted for 28% of the nation's homeless population in 2023, with 181,399 individuals experiencing homelessness.
- New York had the second-highest homeless count at 91,271 individuals on a single night in 2023.
- From 2019 to 2023, overall homelessness rose by 18%, but chronic homelessness increased by 32.5%.
- In 2023, 152,585 people experiencing chronic homelessness were identified, defined as having a disability and long-term homelessness.
- Family homelessness increased by 15.5% from 2022 to 2023, affecting 20% of the total homeless population.
- Veterans experiencing homelessness numbered 35,000 on a single night in 2023, a slight decrease from prior years.
- Youth homelessness affected an estimated 34,800 unaccompanied minors and young adults under 25 in 2023.
- In 2023, 96,800 individuals in families with children experienced homelessness.
- The rate of homelessness was 19.0 per 10,000 people nationally in 2023.
- Sheltered homelessness decreased by 3% from 2022 to 2023, while unsheltered rose by 32%.
- In Los Angeles, 75,312 people experienced homelessness in 2023, up 9% from 2022.
- New York City reported 91,271 homeless individuals in 2023 PIT count.
- Florida's homeless count reached 25,941 in 2023, a 13% increase.
- Washington's homeless population was 29,389 in 2023.
- In 2023, 35 states and DC saw increases in homelessness over 10%.
- Emergency shelter capacity served 140,000 people nightly in 2023.
- Transitional housing beds numbered 92,000 nationwide in 2023.
- Safe haven beds for chronic homeless totaled 5,000 in 2023.
- From 2007 to 2023, total homelessness declined 10% overall but surged recently.
- In 2023, 22 states had homelessness rates over 20 per 10,000.
- DC had the highest rate at 82.2 homeless per 10,000 residents in 2023.
- Hawaii's rate was 71.5 per 10,000 in 2023.
- New Hampshire saw a 59% increase in homelessness from 2022-2023.
- Massachusetts reported 22,988 homeless in 2023.
- Oregon's count was 20,142 in 2023.
Prevalence and Counts Interpretation
America’s crisis has escalated past a point of indignation and into a grim arithmetic: we are now breaking records for how efficiently we leave our most vulnerable neighbors unsheltered.
Programs and Policies
- Housing First reduces ER visits by 50%.
- HUD's Continuum of Care program funded $3B in 2023.
- Section 8 vouchers prevent 100,000 homelessness yearly.
- VA's HUD-VASH placed 100,000 veterans since 2008.
- Emergency Solutions Grants aided 500,000 in 2022.
- Rapid Re-Housing served 300,000 households since 2013.
- PSH beds increased 20% from 2010-2023.
- Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program housed 1,000 since 2021.
- Family Unification Program reunites 20,000 yearly.
- 988 Lifeline diverted 10% to housing services in 2023.
- Project Roomkey housed 40,000 during COVID.
- Eviction prevention grants saved 50,000 homes in 2022.
- Ending Chronic Homelessness Initiative reduced 35% since 2007.
- CA's Prop HHH built 10,000 PSH units since 2016.
- NYC's Housing New York created 100,000 affordable units.
- Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit funded 3M units.
- SAMHSA grants support 200,000 behavioral health beds.
- $2B American Rescue Plan funded homeless aid.
- Permanent Supportive Housing success rate 85% retention.
- Street Outreach Program contacts 1M homeless yearly.
- Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 boosted CoC by 12%.
- Utah's Housing First model reduced chronic homelessness 91%.
- Houston's strategy housed 25,000 since 2011.
- Built for Zero initiative tracked real-time in 15 communities.
- National Housing Trust Fund created 800,000 units since 2008.
- HEARTH Act standardized definitions in 2009.
- Opening Doors federal plan renewed in 2024.
- 50 states have eviction moratoriums or aid post-COVID.
Programs and Policies Interpretation
The statistics show we know exactly how to end homelessness—Housing First slashes ER visits, billions are invested, and proven programs from veterans' support to eviction prevention work—so the persistent crisis is less a puzzle of solutions and more a test of our collective will to fully implement them.
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