Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
Homelessness in the U.S. - Statistics & Facts
Homelessness in the United States seems almost ubiquitous nowadays; over half a million Americans are currently estimated to be homeless and this figure may not even encompass the entire homeless population of the country. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), who perform an annual count of the nation’s homeless population by individually counting the homeless in shelters and on the street, the estimated homeless population in 2022 was around 582,462 people, a decrease from the 647,258 homeless people counted in 2007. However, critics have argued that the HUD’s counting method neglects to include a significant part of the homeless population in their count, as some homeless people may be couch-surfing, staying with friends or family, or sleeping in hotels or motels, and therefore ultimately comprising the nation’s “invisible” homeless population.
According to the data, the majority of homeless people in the United States are White and male, with more than 90 percent estimated to be over 24 years old. In 2022, there were an estimated 30,090 unaccompanied homeless people under the age of 25 living on the street. However, research from K-12 schools may point to a hidden prevalence of homeless youth in the U.S.: in the 2020/21 school year, almost 80 percent of public-school students experiencing homelessness were ‘doubled up’, or living temporarily with others, for their primary nighttime residence, placing them firmly in the ‘invisible’ homeless population. Only 10.9 percent were reported to be staying in shelters and 4.5 percent on the streets, making it likely that the official count neglected to include approximately 85 percent of homeless public-school students in that year.
In addition, a 2023 study on people experiencing homelessness in California highlighted how homeless people were much more likely to say that they slept outdoors, in their vehicle, or in a hotel for at least one night in the last six months in comparison to a shelter, further supporting the claim that the nation’s homeless population is greater than the official data suggests. California is home to the greatest number of homeless people in the United States, and around half of all unsheltered homeless people in the U.S. are also located in California, often living in encampments or ‘tent cities’ that are now commonly found throughout the state. Studies have shown that chronically homeless individuals, unaccompanied youth, and homeless veterans are more likely to remain unsheltered in comparison to homeless people in families.
According to a 2022 survey, Americans were found most likely to blame the mental health system and least likely to blame the military for homelessness, even though the plight of homeless veterans in the U.S. often draws the attention of the media, as U.S. veterans may end up homeless due to a lack of affordable housing, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or substance abuse problems. However, as of 2023, the majority of Americans believed that the federal government should be responsible for addressing homelessness in the U.S. and were most likely to support strategies to combat homelessness such as promoting programs to help homeless veterans and counseling services for individuals suffering from mental illness or addiction. Results also revealed that Americans were most likely to cite drug and alcohol use, high housing costs, poverty, and mental illness as major causes of homelessness in 2023.
In that same year, however, a California statewide study highlighted how homeless people referenced lost or reduced income, high housing costs, and being stolen from or being a victim of a scam as the main economic reasons they had to leave their housing. Moreover, the most commonly cited social reasons included conflicts among residents or property owners, a lack of space, and violence or abuse in the household, suggesting that the problem of homelessness in America might be difficult to solve when there are so many possible factors to consider. Consequently, it is probable that any action taken should aim to consider the unique experience and individual needs of each person experiencing homelessness, in order to truly tackle the problem of homelessness in the United States.
Who are the homeless?
According to the data, the majority of homeless people in the United States are White and male, with more than 90 percent estimated to be over 24 years old. In 2022, there were an estimated 30,090 unaccompanied homeless people under the age of 25 living on the street. However, research from K-12 schools may point to a hidden prevalence of homeless youth in the U.S.: in the 2020/21 school year, almost 80 percent of public-school students experiencing homelessness were ‘doubled up’, or living temporarily with others, for their primary nighttime residence, placing them firmly in the ‘invisible’ homeless population. Only 10.9 percent were reported to be staying in shelters and 4.5 percent on the streets, making it likely that the official count neglected to include approximately 85 percent of homeless public-school students in that year.
In addition, a 2023 study on people experiencing homelessness in California highlighted how homeless people were much more likely to say that they slept outdoors, in their vehicle, or in a hotel for at least one night in the last six months in comparison to a shelter, further supporting the claim that the nation’s homeless population is greater than the official data suggests. California is home to the greatest number of homeless people in the United States, and around half of all unsheltered homeless people in the U.S. are also located in California, often living in encampments or ‘tent cities’ that are now commonly found throughout the state. Studies have shown that chronically homeless individuals, unaccompanied youth, and homeless veterans are more likely to remain unsheltered in comparison to homeless people in families.
Homelessness: the cause and the cure
According to a 2022 survey, Americans were found most likely to blame the mental health system and least likely to blame the military for homelessness, even though the plight of homeless veterans in the U.S. often draws the attention of the media, as U.S. veterans may end up homeless due to a lack of affordable housing, struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or substance abuse problems. However, as of 2023, the majority of Americans believed that the federal government should be responsible for addressing homelessness in the U.S. and were most likely to support strategies to combat homelessness such as promoting programs to help homeless veterans and counseling services for individuals suffering from mental illness or addiction. Results also revealed that Americans were most likely to cite drug and alcohol use, high housing costs, poverty, and mental illness as major causes of homelessness in 2023.
In that same year, however, a California statewide study highlighted how homeless people referenced lost or reduced income, high housing costs, and being stolen from or being a victim of a scam as the main economic reasons they had to leave their housing. Moreover, the most commonly cited social reasons included conflicts among residents or property owners, a lack of space, and violence or abuse in the household, suggesting that the problem of homelessness in America might be difficult to solve when there are so many possible factors to consider. Consequently, it is probable that any action taken should aim to consider the unique experience and individual needs of each person experiencing homelessness, in order to truly tackle the problem of homelessness in the United States.
