U.S. Homelessness Edges Down Slightly, but 28 States Report Increases, HUD Data Shows
In Salt Lake City, volunteers fanned out across the city on a cold January night to document the unsheltered — part of the annual “point-in-time” census that this year showed a modest national decline. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 745,652 homeless individuals in January 2025, a 3% drop from the same night in 2024, according to newly released federal data.
The decrease was driven largely by a 4% decline in the number of people staying in emergency shelters, while the unsheltered population fell by 3%. Family homelessness saw an even sharper drop, down 11% year over year — one of the bright spots in the data.
Yet the overall picture remains mixed. Homelessness increased in 28 states, with North Carolina posting the largest percentage jump — 33% — after Hurricane Helene displaced thousands and added 4,000 emergency shelter beds in fall 2024. Oregon (up 19%) and Maryland (up 17%) also reported significant increases. At the other end, Hawaii (down 41%) and Illinois (down 44%) posted the steepest declines.
The Trump administration, which released the figures, pointed out that the national homeless population has grown 27% since 2013 — a trend it attributed to the failure of “housing first” policies adopted by many cities and states. Late last year, the administration announced a shift away from long-term housing subsidies toward transitional housing with work and addiction treatment requirements.
Nationally, about 22 out of every 10,000 people are homeless on any given night. New York remains the state with the highest rate: 73 per 10,000, or roughly three times the national average.
The data underscore the uneven progress in addressing homelessness, as natural disasters, housing costs, and policy changes continue to shape local outcomes. While the national decline offers a glimmer of hope, advocates warn that sustained investment and targeted solutions are needed to reverse the longer-term upward trend.