As 2026 begins, a review of the state of homelessness in the U.S. helps to learn how much progress has been made.
Homelessness is not an issue that has developed overnight. Its beginnings can be traced back to the founding of America. When the first group of Europeans landed, I’m sure there were many who were poor and homeless.
As time passed, the economic “class” structure evolved and the dichotomy of the haves and have nots was born. This socioeconomic structure perpetuated and created inequities, inequality, and discrimination. This systemic failure was handed down through the years and has been identified within three distinct time periods.
The history of homelessness can be traced from the Post Civil War era to the Modern era. Significant changes that occurred during this 160 year period include increases in women and children, unaccompanied youth, teens, and the aging. Additional characteristics include a disproportionate number of Blacks, mentally illness, and alcoholism and substance abuse homeless categories.
The causes of homelessness are directly connected to poverty, which are related to affordability. Permanent and transitional housing are beyond reach, food costs are prohibitive, economic issues like unemployment/underemployment, low wages, inflation are rampant, and health care costs have skyrocketed.
Unsheltered homeless groups that have flooded the streets are categorized as
unhoused include chronic, single adults, teens, unaccompanied youth, LGBTQ youth & adults, veterans, women & children, aging, and mentally ill. Causes:
● Systemic Failure (policies, programs, resources, support, inequities,
discrimination)
● Human Right Violations
● Job/Income loss
● Unemployment/Underemployment
● Lack of physical and mental health care
● No or limited health insurance and high cost
● Domestic Violence
● Family Conflict
● Teen-Parental Disputes
● School Drop Out
Effects:
● Housing (lack of affordable, permanent, transitional)
● Chronic Disease
● Mental and Physical Illness
● Lower Life Expectancy
● High Mortality Rate
● Addiction (alcohol/drug)
● Hunger/Malnutrition
● Social Discrimination (race, gender, age)
During FY 2025, the federal government funded more than fifteen safety net programs that totaled $7 trillion and dedicated $10 billion for homeless assistance, a 11% increase from 2024.
Safety net programs include: Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicare and Medicaid, Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Women, Infants and Children ( WIC), Housing Choice Voucher Program – Section 8, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Housing First, (HUD) – Continuum of CARE (CoC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Children’s Health Insurance Program – (CHIP), and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Despite the increased funding, safety net programs have not decreased homelessness and its primary cause (poverty). The U. S. poverty rate for the past sixty five years has fluctuated between 11% and 19%. Double digit rates continue to rise and fall regardless of policy and program funding and changes.
The data reveals the following increases in homelessness:
● Numbers – Eighteen Percent Increase between 2023 (633,104) and 2024 (771,480)
● Support – Twelve percent increase in service demand 2023
● Resources – Sixteen percent increase in the need for housing (permanent and transitional) 2024
● Vulnerable Groups – disabled, women and children, older adults, blacks, and indigenous people, 2024
● Geography – Rural and Suburban Areas, 2024
● Sheltered – 2015 – (391,440) to 2024 – (497,256)
● Unsheltered – 2015 – (173,268) to 2024 – (274,224)
● Sheltered Occupancy – 2019 (60%) to 2022 (65%)
● Doubled and Tripled Up (families and friends) – 2024 – (3.2 million)
● Worker Services Needed – 2015 – (770,252) to 2024 – (994,997)
Homelessness Demographics for 2024 and 2025 include:
● National Total – (777,000)
● States – CA/181,399, NY/103,200, FL/30,756, KY/5,321
● Cities – NY/350,000, LA/75,312 Seattle/18,000, Louisville/1,605, Lexington/825
● Race – White – 26.9%, Asian – 36.6%, American Indian – 46.3%, Hispanic –
● 49%, Black or African American 55.3%
● Gender – (Sheltered and Unsheltered) Men – (459,568) Women – (302,660) (catching up)
● Homeless Families – 2023 – (186,084) – 2024 – (259,473)
● Homeless Individuals – 2023 – (467,000) 2024 – (512,007)
● Disabled – 2007 – (120,000) 2024 – (152,585)
● Children – 2023 to 2024 – 33% increase, Under 18 – (148,238) increase
● Unaccompanied Youth – 2022 to 2023 – (34,703) – 15% increase
● Domestic Violence – 2024 – 38% Increase (impacting women and children)
● Family Conflict – 2024 – 39% Increase (impacting 150,000 children)
● Geographic Areas – 2018 – 39.9% 2024 – 44.8%, Major Cities – (135,465) , Rural – (56, 528)
What has worked to decrease homelessness?
Veterans
In 2009, veteran homeless numbers decreased from (73,367) and to (32,882) in 2024,
because they were provided with more permanent affordable housing, temporary
shelters, rental assistance, and wrap-around services.
COVID 19
During the pandemic, homelessness decreased but did not fall uniformly and has
increased since the pandemic ended. Fewer people were in shelters because of
eviction moratoriums, rental assistance, and safety measles that kept people housed
and reduced shelter entry. Increased funding for and expansion of housing choice
vouchers, and emergency rental assistance added to the brief decline. As pandemic-era
support ended (eviction protections, stimulus funds and rental aid), the homeless
numbers increased between 2022 and 2025.
The decline in veteran and pandemic homelessness indicates that if TARGETED
groups are provided with permanent and transitional housing, temporary shelters, rental
assistance, and wrap-around services numbers will decrease.
Conclusion
Current federal legislation (BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL) may have a direct influence on
increasing rather than decreasing homelessness. It includes:
● Cuts 286 million from a total of 651 million.
● Tightens SNAP work requirements and cuts food assistance.
● Cuts Affordable Care Act subsidies.
● Cuts Medicaid support.
● Removes exemptions for veterans, foster youth, and unhoused individuals.
● Cuts in HUD funding and the Section 8 program.
● Increases food insecurity and housing instability.
● Focuses on punitive measures rather than compassionate solutions to policies that punish poverty, potentially leading to more street homelessness. Punitive measures include the removal of encampments, destruction of personal property, detainment, fines, and incarceration, forced sheltering, forced institutionalization, and forced rehabilitation.
Sources:
Soucy, D. et.al., State of Homelessness: 2025 Edition, National Alliance to End Homelessness, September 4, 2025 Niemeyer, L. Homelessness Jumps Again in Kentucky As Trump Administration Moves to Cut Housing Funds, Kentucky Lantern, July 11, 2025