Rate of homelessness in the U.S. by state 2020

When analyzing the ratio of homelessness to state population, New York, Hawaii, and California had the highest rates in 2020. However, Washington, D.C. had an estimated 90.4 homeless individuals per 10,000 people, which was significantly higher than any of the 50 states.

Homeless people by race

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development performs homeless counts at the end of January each year, which includes people in both sheltered and unsheltered locations. The estimated number of homeless people increased to 567,715 in 2019 – the highest level since 2014. However, the true figure is likely to be much higher as some individuals prefer to stay with family or friends. In 2019, nearly half of the people experiencing homelessness where white, while the number of Black homeless people exceeded 225,000.

How many veterans are homeless in America?

The  number of homeless veterans in the United States has halved since 2010. The state of California, which is currently suffering a homeless crisis, accounted for 30 percent of all homeless veterans in 2019. There are many causes of homelessness among veterans of the U.S. military, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse problems, and a lack of affordable housing.