US Homelessness Hits Record High Amid Pandemic Aid Lapse

First-time homelessness, high rental prices, and expired pandemic protections contribute to a 12% increase, the highest since 2007.

Homelessness in the United States has increased by a record 12 percent between January 2022 and January 2023, reaching over 650,000 people, the highest number since reporting began in 2007.
The increase is largely due to a sharp rise in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, likely due to higher rental prices, fewer pandemic protections and a housing shortage.
Homelessness among families with children rose by 16 percent, while the number of veterans experiencing homelessness rose by 7 percent compared to 2022's numbers.
People who identify as Black or Indigenous continue to be overrepresented among the population experiencing homelessness.
New York, California, Florida, Washington, Colorado and Massachusetts were the areas that experienced the largest increases in homelessness from 2022 to 2023.