GITNUXREPORT 2026

Homelessness Statistics

US homelessness rose sharply in 2023, highlighting a severe national and global crisis.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

50% of eviction filings in US lead to homelessness, often due to economic factors.

Statistic 2

Mental illness affects 20-25% of US homeless as primary cause in 2023.

Statistic 3

Substance use disorders contribute to 38% of chronic homelessness cases in US.

Statistic 4

Job loss precedes 40% of new homelessness entries in US annually.

Statistic 5

Domestic violence is a leading cause for 25% of homeless women in US.

Statistic 6

High housing costs (rent burden >50% income) cause 70% of homelessness risk in US.

Statistic 7

Foster care exit leads to homelessness for 20% of youth within 2 years in US.

Statistic 8

Incarceration release without housing contributes to 15% of homelessness.

Statistic 9

In UK, 27% of homelessness due to relationship breakdown in 2023.

Statistic 10

Poverty affects 100% of homeless, but systemic inequality doubles risk for minorities.

Statistic 11

Medical debt causes 10% of homelessness filings in US courts.

Statistic 12

Gambling addiction cited in 5% of Australian homelessness cases.

Statistic 13

In Canada, 30% of homelessness linked to addiction issues.

Statistic 14

Evictions rose 20% post-COVID, leading to 50,000 more homeless in US 2022-23.

Statistic 15

Lack of affordable housing units: US short 7 million units for lowest income.

Statistic 16

In India, rural-urban migration causes 40% of urban homelessness.

Statistic 17

In France, 50% of homelessness due to job loss or economic hardship.

Statistic 18

Childhood trauma increases homelessness risk by 3x.

Statistic 19

Natural disasters displace 1 million into homelessness risk yearly globally.

Statistic 20

In LA, 42% cite economic hardship as main cause in 2023.

Statistic 21

25% of US homeless have untreated serious mental illness as factor.

Statistic 22

70% of homeless have co-occurring mental health and substance issues.

Statistic 23

In NYC, 30% homelessness from doubled-up housing failure.

Statistic 24

Systemic racism triples homelessness risk for Black Americans.

Statistic 25

Pandemic evictions caused 1.5 million homelessness risk in 2022.

Statistic 26

32.0% of homeless adults in the US are Hispanic/Latino in 2023.

Statistic 27

Black/African American individuals make up 32.0% of the US homeless population despite being 13% of the general population in 2023.

Statistic 28

Women comprised 39.7% of the US homeless population in 2023.

Statistic 29

5.4% of homeless people in the US were under 18 years old in 2023.

Statistic 30

59.6% of homeless individuals in the US were aged 25-44 in 2023.

Statistic 31

Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander people were overrepresented at 11.3% of US homeless in 2023.

Statistic 32

In 2023, 9.4% of homeless adults in the US were veterans.

Statistic 33

LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than straight peers in the US.

Statistic 34

40% of homeless youth in the US identify as LGBTQ+.

Statistic 35

In the UK, 76% of rough sleepers are men as of 2023.

Statistic 36

In Australia, Indigenous Australians are 9 times more likely to be homeless than non-Indigenous.

Statistic 37

23% of homeless people in Canada are Indigenous, despite being 5% of population.

Statistic 38

In the US, 7% of homeless are unaccompanied minors under 18 in 2023.

Statistic 39

Asian Americans comprise 1.5% of homeless in US but 6% of population in 2023.

Statistic 40

In 2023, 22% of US homeless were chronically homeless, often older adults.

Statistic 41

Single men account for 52% of US homeless population in 2023.

Statistic 42

In France, 82% of homeless are men, average age 38.

Statistic 43

US homeless families are 33% Black-led, 27% Hispanic-led in 2023.

Statistic 44

12% of US homeless adults have severe mental illness in 2023 PIT.

Statistic 45

In LA, 75% of homeless are male, 35% Black in 2023.

Statistic 46

NYC homeless shelter population is 55% Black, 30% Hispanic in 2023.

Statistic 47

Globally, children under 18 make up 30% of homeless population.

Statistic 48

In Japan, 90% of homeless are men over 50.

Statistic 49

South African homeless are predominantly Black males aged 25-45.

Statistic 50

In Germany, 30% of homeless are migrants.

Statistic 51

Brazilian homeless: 60% Black or mixed-race in major cities.

Statistic 52

45% of homeless deaths linked to chronic health conditions worsened by street living.

Statistic 53

Homeless individuals have 3-4 times higher mortality rate than general population.

Statistic 54

40% of US homeless suffer from severe mental illness.

Statistic 55

Substance use disorder prevalence is 30-50% among homeless adults.

Statistic 56

Homeless people experience 16.5 years lower life expectancy in US.

Statistic 57

25% of homeless youth attempt suicide annually.

Statistic 58

Chronic diseases like hypertension affect 60% of older homeless.

Statistic 59

Homeless women face 9x higher risk of sexual assault.

Statistic 60

Emergency room visits are 5x higher for homeless individuals.

Statistic 61

In UK, 75% of rough sleepers have health issues.

Statistic 62

Homelessness increases HIV risk by 3.5x.

Statistic 63

50% of homeless have untreated dental problems leading to infections.

Statistic 64

Exposure to violence: 26% of homeless women assaulted in past year.

Statistic 65

Homeless students miss 24% more school days.

Statistic 66

Child homelessness linked to 2x higher obesity rates.

Statistic 67

In Canada, homeless life expectancy is 30 years less.

Statistic 68

90% of homeless report food insecurity regularly.

Statistic 69

Frostbite and hypothermia cause 700 US homeless deaths yearly.

Statistic 70

Homeless veterans have PTSD rates of 50%.

Statistic 71

In LA, 65% of homeless have physical health issues.

Statistic 72

Social isolation leads to 50% higher depression rates among homeless.

Statistic 73

Homeless individuals cost healthcare systems $20,000 more per person yearly.

Statistic 74

In Australia, 70% of homeless have mental health conditions.

Statistic 75

35% of homeless children experience developmental delays.

Statistic 76

Homelessness correlates with 87% higher incarceration recidivism.

Statistic 77

In NYC, overdose deaths among homeless up 45% in 2022.

Statistic 78

20% of US homeless expelled from shelters due to behavior/health issues.

Statistic 79

Global homeless face 10x TB infection risk.

Statistic 80

Housing First programs reduce hospitalizations by 40%.

Statistic 81

US HUD allocated $3.16 billion for homeless assistance in FY2023.

Statistic 82

Rapid re-housing housed 100,000+ households in US in 2022.

Statistic 83

Permanent Supportive Housing ends chronic homelessness for 85% of participants.

Statistic 84

Continuum of Care program funded 400,000+ beds/shelters in 2023.

Statistic 85

VA's HUD-VASH vouchers housed 20,000 veterans in 2023.

Statistic 86

UK's Homelessness Reduction Act prevented 15,000 evictions since 2018.

Statistic 87

Finland's Housing First reduced homelessness by 35% since 2008.

Statistic 88

US Emergency Solutions Grant provided $400 million for prevention in 2023.

Statistic 89

Street Outreach programs contacted 1.2 million in US 2022.

Statistic 90

Project Roomkey in CA housed 60,000 during COVID.

Statistic 91

National Low Income Housing Coalition advocates for 7.8 million affordable units.

Statistic 92

Youth programs like RHYA served 50,000 runaway/homeless youth in 2022.

Statistic 93

In Canada, Reaching Home strategy invests $2.2 billion over 10 years.

Statistic 94

Australia's National Housing and Homelessness Agreement funds $1.4 billion.

Statistic 95

NYC's Right to Shelter law houses 60,000 nightly.

Statistic 96

Supportive services reduce recidivism by 88% in PSH.

Statistic 97

Eviction prevention grants averted 250,000 evictions in 2023.

Statistic 98

HMIS systems track 500,000+ homeless entries yearly for better allocation.

Statistic 99

In Seattle, tiny homes housed 1,000+ in 2023.

Statistic 100

Federal tax credits produced 3 million affordable units since 1986.

Statistic 101

LA's Inside Safe program moved 2,000 off streets since 2022.

Statistic 102

Universal basic income pilots reduced homelessness by 20% in trials.

Statistic 103

Schoolhouse connections aided 1.4 million homeless students in 2022.

Statistic 104

France's SAMU Social rescued 100,000 homeless in 2022.

Statistic 105

On a single night in January 2023, 653,104 people experienced homelessness in the United States, representing a 12% increase from 2022.

Statistic 106

Approximately 22% of the homeless population in the US in 2023 were unsheltered, totaling about 143,731 individuals.

Statistic 107

In 2023, California had the largest homeless population in the US with 171,521 people experiencing homelessness on a single night.

Statistic 108

New York reported 91,271 homeless individuals in 2023, accounting for 14% of the national total.

Statistic 109

The US homeless population grew by 18.1% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023 in the western United States.

Statistic 110

In 2022, about 3.7 million people in the US spent at least one night in a shelter.

Statistic 111

Globally, an estimated 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing as of 2023, with many at risk of homelessness.

Statistic 112

In England, 309,000 people experienced homelessness in 2022-2023, including 152,000 children.

Statistic 113

Australia had 122,494 people experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021.

Statistic 114

In Canada, 235,000 people experience homelessness annually, with 35,000 homeless on a given night in 2023.

Statistic 115

Japan's homeless population was 3,065 as of January 2023, down 4% from the previous year.

Statistic 116

In India, over 1.77 million people were homeless according to the 2011 Census, likely higher now.

Statistic 117

France reported 300,000 homeless people in 2023, with 250,000 in mainland France.

Statistic 118

In 2023, 28,192 people were homeless in Washington DC on a single night.

Statistic 119

Seattle-King County had 13,368 homeless individuals in 2023, up 41% since 2022.

Statistic 120

Los Angeles had 75,518 homeless people in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022.

Statistic 121

In 2023, 40 states and DC saw increases in homelessness compared to 2022.

Statistic 122

Chronic homelessness affected 143,361 people (22%) in the US in 2023.

Statistic 123

Family homelessness in the US reached 153,696 people in 2023, including 47,392 children.

Statistic 124

Veterans experiencing homelessness numbered 35,000 in the US in 2023.

Statistic 125

Unaccompanied youth homelessness was 34,838 in the US Point-in-Time count of 2023.

Statistic 126

In 2022, 582,462 people were homeless on a single night in the US.

Statistic 127

Brazil had an estimated 281,000 homeless people in 2023 across major cities.

Statistic 128

South Africa estimates 200,000 homeless individuals as of 2023.

Statistic 129

In Germany, about 40,000 people sleep rough annually, with total homelessness higher at 678,000.

Statistic 130

New Zealand reported 1,047 people homeless in 2023 census data.

Statistic 131

In 2023, Philadelphia counted 6,333 homeless individuals.

Statistic 132

Chicago had approximately 19,400 homeless in 2023.

Statistic 133

San Francisco reported 7,833 homeless in 2023 PIT count.

Statistic 134

In 2023, 18.1% year-over-year increase in individual homelessness in the US.

1/134

Sources

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While the statistics are staggering—from the 653,104 people counted on a single night in the U.S. to the millions facing housing insecurity worldwide—the true scale of homelessness is measured not in numbers, but in the profound human suffering and systemic failures they represent.

Key Takeaways

On a single night in January 2023, 653,104 people experienced homelessness in the United States, representing a 12% increase from 2022.
Approximately 22% of the homeless population in the US in 2023 were unsheltered, totaling about 143,731 individuals.
In 2023, California had the largest homeless population in the US with 171,521 people experiencing homelessness on a single night.
32.0% of homeless adults in the US are Hispanic/Latino in 2023.
Black/African American individuals make up 32.0% of the US homeless population despite being 13% of the general population in 2023.
Women comprised 39.7% of the US homeless population in 2023.
50% of eviction filings in US lead to homelessness, often due to economic factors.
Mental illness affects 20-25% of US homeless as primary cause in 2023.
Substance use disorders contribute to 38% of chronic homelessness cases in US.
45% of homeless deaths linked to chronic health conditions worsened by street living.
Homeless individuals have 3-4 times higher mortality rate than general population.
40% of US homeless suffer from severe mental illness.
Housing First programs reduce hospitalizations by 40%.
US HUD allocated $3.16 billion for homeless assistance in FY2023.
Rapid re-housing housed 100,000+ households in US in 2022.

US homelessness rose sharply in 2023, highlighting a severe national and global crisis.

Causal Factors

50% of eviction filings in US lead to homelessness, often due to economic factors.
Mental illness affects 20-25% of US homeless as primary cause in 2023.
Substance use disorders contribute to 38% of chronic homelessness cases in US.
Job loss precedes 40% of new homelessness entries in US annually.
Domestic violence is a leading cause for 25% of homeless women in US.
High housing costs (rent burden >50% income) cause 70% of homelessness risk in US.
Foster care exit leads to homelessness for 20% of youth within 2 years in US.
Incarceration release without housing contributes to 15% of homelessness.
In UK, 27% of homelessness due to relationship breakdown in 2023.
Poverty affects 100% of homeless, but systemic inequality doubles risk for minorities.
Medical debt causes 10% of homelessness filings in US courts.
Gambling addiction cited in 5% of Australian homelessness cases.
In Canada, 30% of homelessness linked to addiction issues.
Evictions rose 20% post-COVID, leading to 50,000 more homeless in US 2022-23.
Lack of affordable housing units: US short 7 million units for lowest income.
In India, rural-urban migration causes 40% of urban homelessness.
In France, 50% of homelessness due to job loss or economic hardship.
Childhood trauma increases homelessness risk by 3x.
Natural disasters displace 1 million into homelessness risk yearly globally.
In LA, 42% cite economic hardship as main cause in 2023.
25% of US homeless have untreated serious mental illness as factor.
70% of homeless have co-occurring mental health and substance issues.
In NYC, 30% homelessness from doubled-up housing failure.
Systemic racism triples homelessness risk for Black Americans.
Pandemic evictions caused 1.5 million homelessness risk in 2022.

Causal Factors Interpretation

Behind every statistic is a preventable human tragedy, revealing a system where housing is treated as a luxury prize in a rigged game of economic, social, and health crises rather than the fundamental right it should be.

Demographic Statistics

32.0% of homeless adults in the US are Hispanic/Latino in 2023.
Black/African American individuals make up 32.0% of the US homeless population despite being 13% of the general population in 2023.
Women comprised 39.7% of the US homeless population in 2023.
5.4% of homeless people in the US were under 18 years old in 2023.
59.6% of homeless individuals in the US were aged 25-44 in 2023.
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander people were overrepresented at 11.3% of US homeless in 2023.
In 2023, 9.4% of homeless adults in the US were veterans.
LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than straight peers in the US.
40% of homeless youth in the US identify as LGBTQ+.
In the UK, 76% of rough sleepers are men as of 2023.
In Australia, Indigenous Australians are 9 times more likely to be homeless than non-Indigenous.
23% of homeless people in Canada are Indigenous, despite being 5% of population.
In the US, 7% of homeless are unaccompanied minors under 18 in 2023.
Asian Americans comprise 1.5% of homeless in US but 6% of population in 2023.
In 2023, 22% of US homeless were chronically homeless, often older adults.
Single men account for 52% of US homeless population in 2023.
In France, 82% of homeless are men, average age 38.
US homeless families are 33% Black-led, 27% Hispanic-led in 2023.
12% of US homeless adults have severe mental illness in 2023 PIT.
In LA, 75% of homeless are male, 35% Black in 2023.
NYC homeless shelter population is 55% Black, 30% Hispanic in 2023.
Globally, children under 18 make up 30% of homeless population.
In Japan, 90% of homeless are men over 50.
South African homeless are predominantly Black males aged 25-45.
In Germany, 30% of homeless are migrants.
Brazilian homeless: 60% Black or mixed-race in major cities.

Demographic Statistics Interpretation

These statistics reveal a global portrait of homelessness not as a random misfortune, but as a predictable crisis disproportionately mapping onto the fault lines of race, gender, sexuality, and age, proving that who you are often dictates where you end up.

Health and Social Impacts

45% of homeless deaths linked to chronic health conditions worsened by street living.
Homeless individuals have 3-4 times higher mortality rate than general population.
40% of US homeless suffer from severe mental illness.
Substance use disorder prevalence is 30-50% among homeless adults.
Homeless people experience 16.5 years lower life expectancy in US.
25% of homeless youth attempt suicide annually.
Chronic diseases like hypertension affect 60% of older homeless.
Homeless women face 9x higher risk of sexual assault.
Emergency room visits are 5x higher for homeless individuals.
In UK, 75% of rough sleepers have health issues.
Homelessness increases HIV risk by 3.5x.
50% of homeless have untreated dental problems leading to infections.
Exposure to violence: 26% of homeless women assaulted in past year.
Homeless students miss 24% more school days.
Child homelessness linked to 2x higher obesity rates.
In Canada, homeless life expectancy is 30 years less.
90% of homeless report food insecurity regularly.
Frostbite and hypothermia cause 700 US homeless deaths yearly.
Homeless veterans have PTSD rates of 50%.
In LA, 65% of homeless have physical health issues.
Social isolation leads to 50% higher depression rates among homeless.
Homeless individuals cost healthcare systems $20,000 more per person yearly.
In Australia, 70% of homeless have mental health conditions.
35% of homeless children experience developmental delays.
Homelessness correlates with 87% higher incarceration recidivism.
In NYC, overdose deaths among homeless up 45% in 2022.
20% of US homeless expelled from shelters due to behavior/health issues.
Global homeless face 10x TB infection risk.

Health and Social Impacts Interpretation

Homelessness is not merely a lack of address but a deadly, state-sanctioned accelerant for virtually every human affliction, from disease and despair to violence and early death, proving that the sidewalk is the most neglected and costly ward in our entire healthcare system.

Interventions and Policies

Housing First programs reduce hospitalizations by 40%.
US HUD allocated $3.16 billion for homeless assistance in FY2023.
Rapid re-housing housed 100,000+ households in US in 2022.
Permanent Supportive Housing ends chronic homelessness for 85% of participants.
Continuum of Care program funded 400,000+ beds/shelters in 2023.
VA's HUD-VASH vouchers housed 20,000 veterans in 2023.
UK's Homelessness Reduction Act prevented 15,000 evictions since 2018.
Finland's Housing First reduced homelessness by 35% since 2008.
US Emergency Solutions Grant provided $400 million for prevention in 2023.
Street Outreach programs contacted 1.2 million in US 2022.
Project Roomkey in CA housed 60,000 during COVID.
National Low Income Housing Coalition advocates for 7.8 million affordable units.
Youth programs like RHYA served 50,000 runaway/homeless youth in 2022.
In Canada, Reaching Home strategy invests $2.2 billion over 10 years.
Australia's National Housing and Homelessness Agreement funds $1.4 billion.
NYC's Right to Shelter law houses 60,000 nightly.
Supportive services reduce recidivism by 88% in PSH.
Eviction prevention grants averted 250,000 evictions in 2023.
HMIS systems track 500,000+ homeless entries yearly for better allocation.
In Seattle, tiny homes housed 1,000+ in 2023.
Federal tax credits produced 3 million affordable units since 1986.
LA's Inside Safe program moved 2,000 off streets since 2022.
Universal basic income pilots reduced homelessness by 20% in trials.
Schoolhouse connections aided 1.4 million homeless students in 2022.
France's SAMU Social rescued 100,000 homeless in 2022.

Interventions and Policies Interpretation

The sheer weight of these numbers proves that homelessness, for all its tragic complexity, is not an incurable mystery but a simple math problem we are finally learning to solve with housing and humanity.

Prevalence Statistics

On a single night in January 2023, 653,104 people experienced homelessness in the United States, representing a 12% increase from 2022.
Approximately 22% of the homeless population in the US in 2023 were unsheltered, totaling about 143,731 individuals.
In 2023, California had the largest homeless population in the US with 171,521 people experiencing homelessness on a single night.
New York reported 91,271 homeless individuals in 2023, accounting for 14% of the national total.
The US homeless population grew by 18.1% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023 in the western United States.
In 2022, about 3.7 million people in the US spent at least one night in a shelter.
Globally, an estimated 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing as of 2023, with many at risk of homelessness.
In England, 309,000 people experienced homelessness in 2022-2023, including 152,000 children.
Australia had 122,494 people experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021.
In Canada, 235,000 people experience homelessness annually, with 35,000 homeless on a given night in 2023.
Japan's homeless population was 3,065 as of January 2023, down 4% from the previous year.
In India, over 1.77 million people were homeless according to the 2011 Census, likely higher now.
France reported 300,000 homeless people in 2023, with 250,000 in mainland France.
In 2023, 28,192 people were homeless in Washington DC on a single night.
Seattle-King County had 13,368 homeless individuals in 2023, up 41% since 2022.
Los Angeles had 75,518 homeless people in 2023, a 9% increase from 2022.
In 2023, 40 states and DC saw increases in homelessness compared to 2022.
Chronic homelessness affected 143,361 people (22%) in the US in 2023.
Family homelessness in the US reached 153,696 people in 2023, including 47,392 children.
Veterans experiencing homelessness numbered 35,000 in the US in 2023.
Unaccompanied youth homelessness was 34,838 in the US Point-in-Time count of 2023.
In 2022, 582,462 people were homeless on a single night in the US.
Brazil had an estimated 281,000 homeless people in 2023 across major cities.
South Africa estimates 200,000 homeless individuals as of 2023.
In Germany, about 40,000 people sleep rough annually, with total homelessness higher at 678,000.
New Zealand reported 1,047 people homeless in 2023 census data.
In 2023, Philadelphia counted 6,333 homeless individuals.
Chicago had approximately 19,400 homeless in 2023.
San Francisco reported 7,833 homeless in 2023 PIT count.
In 2023, 18.1% year-over-year increase in individual homelessness in the US.

Prevalence Statistics Interpretation

If our planet were a house, the guest list of unhoused people is not only tragically long but growing at an alarming rate, proving that we are spectacularly failing at the basic human task of keeping a roof over each other's heads.

Sources & References

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