State of Homelessness: 2024 Edition

Written and prepared by Daniel Soucy, Makenna Janes, and Andrew Hall.

Table of Contents

> The Response System is Over Capacity | > Why Do People Experience Homelessness? | > On the Brink – Homelessness Risk | > Where Do People Experience Homelessness? | > Who Experiences Homelessness? | > Ending Homelessness is Possible

A) The Homeless Population is Growing as the System is Overwhelmed by a Constant Stream of New People

On a single night in January 2023, more than half a million people (653,104 people) were experiencing homelessness across the United States. Behind this number is another set of numbers pointing to alarming growths in homelessness, especially since the previous year (2022):

• 12.1 percent was the year-over-year increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness. This marked the largest increase since data collection began in 2007.²
• 70,642 more people did not have a place to call home in 2023 than in 2022.
• 72 percent of Continuums of Care (CoCs) reported increases in overall homelessness.
• 64 percent of CoCs reported a rise in unsheltered homelessness.
• Since 2016, overall homelessness, unsheltered homelessness, and chronic homelessness have all increased every year.

While the response system continues to increase the amount of people it provides housing to, there are always new individuals and families who cannot afford housing. The system is not funded to meet this demand.

Historically, most people experiencing homelessness are doing so for the first time. In 2021, 62 percent of people experiencing sheltered homelessness fell into this category. Between 2019 and 2023, the total number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time grew by 23.3 percent (183,148 people), reflecting a similar trend since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the course of 2023, nearly one million people (970,806 people) experienced homelessness for the first time, the highest number ever recorded.

B) For the Under-Resourced System, the Number of People Experiencing Homelessness is Always Larger than the Number of Shelter Beds

In response to these growing numbers, the national homelessness response system added 30,925 temporary shelter beds between 2022 and 2023. This is the largest annual increase in temporary shelter beds since data collection began in 2007. Despite this increase, the system is still not currently resourced to deal with the scale of the current affordable housing crisis. When the number of available beds does not keep up with the number of people experiencing homelessness, people are forced to sleep outside.

Historic national-level data shows that the number of people experiencing homelessness has always outpaced the number of existing shelter beds. While the response system is successful in placing people into housing, it does not have the resources it needs to serve everyone.

The largest shortage is in the number of available shelter beds for individuals. In 2022 there was a shortage of 187,988 beds. In 2023, this shortage increased by 30,130 beds. There are now 218,118 too few beds for individuals experiencing homelessness.

On a single night in January 2022, there were enough beds for unaccompanied youth under 18 experiencing homelessness. However, in 2023, 545 more unaccompanied youth under 18 experienced homelessness. This happened just as the total number of temporary beds available for unaccompanied youth under 18 decreased by 614 beds: from 3,260 in 2022 to 3,191 in 2023. This created a shortage for unaccompanied youth under 18 in need of shelter.

C) Large Increases in Permanent Housing Haven’t Kept Up with the Need

While temporary shelter supports a person’s immediate health and well-being by ensuring they do not need to sleep outside, permanent and affordable housing ultimately ends homelessness. Without sustained increases in their funding, many communities cannot fully provide for people’s immediate needs while also creating long-term solutions to end homelessness.

The nation’s homeless response system has successfully grown its number of permanent housing beds each year since 2007, amounting to a 251 percent increase. Further, recent year surges in the number of people experiencing homelessness were met with a 64 percent increase in permanent beds (since 2015).

Congressional investments in COVID relief helped significantly. In 2023, approximately 8 percent of all beds for people experiencing homelessness were funded through added resources for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, CoC program, and Emergency Housing Vouchers. A significant amount of these resources went toward permanent housing. In 2023, 44.3 percent of OPH and 10.2 percent of RRH was funded through COVID relief funds.

These investments helped people end their homelessness, pay rent, avoid evictions, and stay in their homes. Without this support from the federal government, it is likely that homelessness would have increased even more during the pandemic and into 2023.

While helping many individual people and families, none of these investments and expansions in permanent housing beds have been enough to keep up with the overall need. As more people are housed, even greater numbers of people become homeless.

D) Communities Need More Resources to Reduce Unsheltered Homelessness

Without enough temporary shelter beds and permanent housing resources, people are forced to live in places not meant for human habitation (like city sidewalks, vehicles, abandoned buildings, or parks). The number of people without shelter is increasing.

But unsheltered homelessness does not impact everyone equally: many groups of color, gender-expansive people, and people with health challenges face more barriers to accessing shelter. Many communities are also facing increasingly dangerous weather, creating an urgent need for them get more people inside and away from deadly conditions.

Recently, some communities received time-limited bonus grants from HUD to better serve people living unsheltered. These communities are increasing outreach and moving people into housing more quickly, while also investing in permanent housing and enhanced supportive services like mental health care, physical health care, and substance use treatment. However, this funding reaches less than half of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness across the country.

Research also indicates significant staffing needs: homeless services workers experience significant stress that impacts the system’s ability to return people to housing. For many workers, salaries are too low. Workers also express not having enough resources to support their clients. These challenges make it more difficult to recruit and retain staff who have the expertise to connect unsheltered people to housing.

With more housing, services, and workforce supports, the response system could function more effectively and house even greater numbers of people in need. Instead, some communities are punishing people for sleeping outside. This approach does nothing to address the shortage of safe, stable shelter and permanent housing. Without sustained and expanded investments to implement real solutions, unsheltered homelessness will continue to increase.

1) Rents are Too High

The link between high housing costs and homelessness cannot be overstated. Researchers from the state of Washington demonstrated that housing market conditions cause homelessness. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, when median rents increase $100, homelessness rates rise by nine percent. From 2001-2022, median rents increased 19 percent after adjusting for inflation.

2) Incomes are Too Low

Meanwhile, since 2001, median incomes of renter households increased just four percent after adjusting for inflation. Even in states with a minimum wage that is higher than the federally mandated $7.25 per hour, wages are not keeping up with rent and expenses. A comprehensive study of income among people experiencing homelessness demonstrated that more than half of people experiencing sheltered homelessness, and slightly less than half of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, are formally employed. The vast majority also receive supplemental income through programs like disability insurance or Social Security payments.

A) Severely Housing Cost Burdened

Households who cannot afford to pay for housing are at risk of entering homelessness. Those that pay 50 percent or more of their gross income on rent are considered “severely housing cost burdened.” In 2022, 7.2 million households living in poverty were also severely housing cost burdened. This number reflects a 15 percent increase since 2019.

Policies, practices and individual discrimination have, and continue to, systematically exclude Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) from building wealth and owning a home. As a result, households of color are far more likely than white households to rent their home. Further, renters of color are far more likely to be severely housing cost burdened due to discrimination in the rental market, income disparities, and racialized rent exploitation. While American Indian and Alaska Native households are less likely to be severely housing cost burdened renters than other racial groups, research also indicates that they are far more likely to live in severely inadequate housing and have higher cost burdens for other essential goods. This contributes to an unequal risk of housing precarity and homelessness among many groups of color.

B) Doubled Up

Living in overcrowded homes to temporarily avoid falling into homelessness is called doubling up and is another useful indicator of risk. In 2022, over 3.4 million households at or below 125 percent of the national poverty measure lived in doubled-up housing. While some households may prefer to live together, the method the Alliance uses to calculate doubled up homelessness attempts to only count those households doubling up out of financial necessity.

However, it is not always easy to move in with friends or family. For example, not only is it challenging to share a one-bedroom apartment with multiple families, but in many circumstances, doing so may also violate a host’s lease and put them at risk of eviction.

C) Other Risk Factors

Notably, other factors tied to identity and circumstances can put people at risk of homelessness. LGBTQIA+ households, survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence, people exiting from the criminal legal system, and youth aging out of foster care face challenges finding stable, affordable housing. Specifically, discrimination in the rental market and safety concerns can further restrict the number of units that these groups have access to. Employment discrimination and experiences of trauma can also limit their ability to earn incomes. They may also have safety concerns that make doubling up impossible.

1) People experiencing homelessness are increasingly concentrated in cities.

Solving the affordable housing crisis in the nation’s major cities, including ensuring that urban areas have enough deeply affordable housing and emergency housing resources, would significantly reduce homelessness. In 2007, 51 percent of people experiencing homelessness were concentrated in urban areas. In 2023, 59 percent of people experiencing homelessness lived in urban areas.

2) Solving challenges in a few states would significantly reduce homelessness.

• Just seven states (California, New York, Florida, Washington, Texas, Oregon, and Massachusetts) account for 63 percent of people experiencing homelessness.
• 25 Continuums of Care (CoCs), spanning both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, account for nearly 49 percent of all people experiencing homelessness. Between 2022 and 2023, homelessness increased the most in these same states and CoCs.

In part, the fact that these regions account for an increasingly large share of the nation’s homeless population is tied to the large overall populations in these states. California’s overall population of people experiencing homelessness increased 5.8 percent in 2023. This is less than half of the average 12.1 percent increase in the national population of people experiencing homelessness. However, due to California’s size, the increased population count was large: 9,878 people.

3) Some smaller states have large numbers relative to their populations.

From 2022 to 2023, homelessness in New Hampshire and New Mexico increased by more than 50 percent. Vermont, Maine, Montana, Colorado, and Alaska have very high rates of people experiencing homelessness compared to their relatively small populations. It is important to ensure that federal resources reach all locations that are uniquely struggling to end homelessness, even if they have small homeless populations. All people experiencing homelessness must have access to assistance regardless of where they live.

A) People of Color are Overrepresented

Homelessness is a racial justice issue. Historical and contemporary discrimination and exclusion from housing, education, employment, and wealth-building have excluded Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from financial resources and housing opportunities. This has made it more difficult for BIPOC to access safe, stable housing. BIPOC renters experience extremely high rates of severe housing cost burden and are less likely than the overall population to own their homes.

The nation’s safety net has also failed to distribute resources in ways that meaningfully address the impacts of systemic and individual discrimination and exclusion. This is reflected in high, and growing, rates of overall homelessness and unsheltered homelessness among BIPOC.

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are the racial/ethnic group that is most likely to experience homelessness. People of American Indian, Alaskan Native, or Indigenous descent, as well as people of Black, African American, or African descent, also experience higher rates of homelessness than the overall population (Figure 9). Since 2015, these rates have increased for most groups of color. They increased most rapidly among the following groups:

• Asian (91 percent increase)
• Hispanic or Latino (59 percent increase)
• American Indian or Alaskan Native (53 percent increase)
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (21 percent increase)

Similar disparities persisted from 2022 to 2023, leading to even higher rates of homelessness among these groups.

Systemic racism and discrimination is also evident in the rates of unsheltered homelessness.

It is important to acknowledge the systemic barriers preventing BIPOC communities from accessing housing and urge policymakers to eliminate these barriers through legislative actions and regulations. States and communities need sustained resources to identify trends in their local data and create systems that are accessible and available to everyone. Doing so will create stronger, more stable communities for everyone.

B) The Majority of People Experiencing Homelessness Are Men, and Homelessness is Growing Among Women and Gender-Expansive People

HUD collects and reports data for multiple gender categories. All of these categories are experiencing homelessness at higher rates than ever before. But, in many ways, each of their stories is unique.

Men. Approximately 61 percent of people experiencing homelessness identify as men. Men (and men of color in particular) also continue make up the majority of individuals experiencing homelessness. For every 15 women who experience homelessness, 24 men do (Figure 11). Without specifically addressing homelessness among individual men in particular, homelessness will persist in the United States.

Women. Despite representing a smaller share of overall homelessness, homelessness among people identifying as women is on the rise. Homelessness among women increased 12.1 percent since 2022 and 11.4 percent since 2015. This increase is most prevalent among individual women. While fewer women experience homelessness than men, this increase is concerning for many reasons. One prominent reason is that women are more likely to experience harassment and assault. Living outside can exacerbate this risk.

While HUD data does not report data on race and gender together, men and women of color face specific challenges accessing safe and deeply affordable housing. Ensuring that individuals, and especially individuals of color, have access to housing will help ensure that all people have the opportunity to thrive.

Gender-Expansive People. Since data collection began in 2015, gender-expansive people (transgender people, people who are not singularly male or female, and gender-questioning people) have experienced alarmingly fast increases in homelessness – especially compared with cisgender people. Housing discrimination, harassment, violence, employment discrimination, and barriers to accessing social safety nets among gender-expansive people all point to a heightened risk of homelessness.

These systemic barriers have likely always caused high rates of gender-expansive homelessness. However, since 2015, transgender homelessness increased 217 percent (compared to 14.5 percent for cisgender people).

Furthermore, most gender-expansive people experiencing homelessness are unsheltered. (see the above chart).

Based on independent analyses, it is also likely that gender-expansive people experience high rates of homelessness relative to their population size. A 2022 national survey of transgender people found that 30 percent of respondents experienced homelessness during their lifetime. This points to the urgent need to create and expand policies that make services more accessible and inclusive for gender-expansive households.

C) The Number of Disabled People Experiencing Long-term or Recurring Homelessness is Also Increasing

HUD considers people who have experienced homelessness for at least a year — or multiple times totaling a year, while having a disabling condition such as a physical disability, a mental difference or while experiencing a challenge with substance use – as chronically homeless. For years, chronic homelessness declined due to a well-supported and sustained effort to direct housing and supportive services to this population.

However, funding for deeply subsidized housing and services has not kept up with this population’s needs. Disabled people are often paid subminimum wages and benefits, excluded from economic opportunity, experience housing discrimination, and face a high risk of eviction. This has led to increases in homelessness beginning in 2016.

• Nearly two times (154,313) as many people experienced chronic homelessness in 2023 than in 2016, when chronic homelessness reached a record low due to targeted support.
• 62 percent of these people are unsheltered, compared with 39 percent of the total population.
• 36 percent (more than a third) of people in shelters experiencing chronic homelessness were older adults in 2021. Older adults are at increased risk of experiencing a disabling condition.

High rates of unsheltered homelessness raise additional concerns. People with preexisting health conditions are more likely to see their health deteriorate as a result of sleeping outside. The supply of permanent housing and quality, affordable physical and mental health care has not met these steep increases in demand. Policymakers must expand this supply while reducing barriers to financial stability for disabled households.

D) The Number of Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness is Growing Rapidly

2023 was the first year in which HUD reported detailed age categories and information about older adults experiencing homelessness (those over the age of 55). In 2023:

• 20 percent of all people experiencing homelessness were older than 55, totaling 127,707 older adults who experienced homelessness in the U.S.
• 13 out of every 10,000 older adults in the U.S. experienced homelessness.

While older adults are less likely to experience homelessness compared to other age groups, the number of older adults in the US is growing. They have specific vulnerabilities that call for increased attention and resources.

Older adults have more complex and acute health and housing needs. 34 percent of older adult renters spent 50 percent or more of their income on rent in 2021, higher than any other age group. Renters aged 75 and older were the most likely age group to be severely housing cost burdened.

In part, this is because older adults often have fixed or limited incomes that have not kept pace with the rising cost of living. They have fewer opportunities to increase their incomes from work and need long-term support.

Providers also often lack the resources needed to adequately serve older adults, such as accessible shelter beds or higher levels of medical care. The existing housing stock, too, is frequently inaccessible for older adults.

These trends necessitate more funding for services tailored to their needs. Communities must prevent older adults from entering into homelessness and ensure that they can access permanent housing. At minimum, this means increased coordination between homeless service systems, health services, and aging networks; more robust income supports including social security; and intentional outreach to ensure that all older adults receive the services that they need.

E) After Years of Decline, Homelessness Among Families and Children is Creeping Up Again

From 2015 to 2022, targeted homelessness assistance to families and youth significantly reduced homelessness among these two groups. This positive trend reversed from 2022 to 2023. Family homelessness increased dramatically: 15.5 percent.

Policy shifts (like the end of COVID-19 era safety net funding and the end of eviction moratoriums) are putting pressure on many families, hurting the ability of some to keep up with living and housing costs. This is likely impacting family homelessness.

Meanwhile, homelessness among unaccompanied youth is also rising.

• 60.5 percent of CoCs reported increases in unaccompanied youth under 25 experiencing homelessness from 2022 to 2023. CoCs reported similar trends for unaccompanied youth under 18.
• 10 percent of high school students across the United States experienced homelessness in 2019 according to independent studies.

This points to the need to bring back proper funding for housing assistance and income supports for the most vulnerable members of U.S. society.

F) Survivors of Domestic Violence Are at Risk of Homelessness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men will experience violence from an intimate partner during their lifetimes. Research shows that domestic violence is a cause of homelessness, especially for women and families.

• 5.5 percent of all women and 1.4 percent of all men needed emergency housing services at some point because of intimate partner violence, according to a national survey.
• 17 percent of cisgender women experiencing homelessness surveyed in the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness had also survived domestic violence in the previous six months.

A lack of available, affordable housing can force survivors to make an impossible choice: remain in an unsafe situation with the person who is abusing them or become homeless. This choice is even more concerning given that homelessness puts survivors at a high risk of experiencing further incidents of violence.

While some emergency housing beds are designated for survivors, statewide studies demonstrate that the demand outpaces the available supply. Targeted, robust housing services for survivors are critical to ensure their safety.

A) National Example: The Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) launched the “Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative” and collaborated with HUD to implement specific services for veterans experiencing homelessness.

During this initiative, a federal evaluation found that veteran homelessness decreased 55.3 percent (compared to the 8.3 percent decrease among the overall population). To achieve this significant reduction, VA:

• Learned. The strategy development team learned from existing research, implementing the Housing First approach (providing immediate access to permanent housing plus voluntary services).
• Invested. The agency partnered with HUD to expand the number of emergency housing vouchers and temporary shelter beds available to veterans.
• Coordinated. VA coordinated services across the areas of housing, health, and education. Critically, VA expanded their existing health care programs and connected more veterans with more robust services.
• Analyzed. VA analyzed real-time data and used it to change and adapt services to meet their clients’ needs.

Between 2022 and 2023, the resources to support this approach did not keep up with increases in veteran homelessness. This led to the largest year-over-year increase in veteran homelessness since 2011 (Figure 17).

The Housing First approach also saved taxpayers money. A VA analysis found that robust housing with services was significantly less expensive than emergency health care, criminal legal system costs, and other social services that people experiencing homelessness need.

B) Local Example: Chattanooga, Tennessee

In 2023, some communities also made large investments in their local response systems using money from the American Rescue Plan. Chattanooga, Tennessee took many of the same steps as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. As a result, Chattanooga reduced homelessness by 49 percent and connected 1,657 people experiencing homelessness with housing from 2022-2023.⁴

While applying the Housing First approach, Chattanooga:

• Coordinated. The city partnered with educators and health providers to coordinate efforts.
• Prevented. The city invested in expansions of its eviction prevention services.
• Built. Planners created the region’s first low-barrier shelter, ensuring that people could access the resources they need.
• Analyzed. Leaders examined their data to target permanent housing resources to vulnerable groups (like youth and extremely low-income households) who might otherwise fall through the cracks.