The United States is grappling with a significant challenge: an escalating crisis of homelessness. This troubling issue has seen a particular spike in chronic homelessness, which has surged by 65% since hitting its lowest point in 2016. The most visible aspect of this crisis is the unsheltered homeless population that is highly concentrated in metropolitan areas, though there has been a noteworthy decline in homelessness among families, children, and military veterans.
A snapshot from a January 2022 count revealed that over 500,000 individuals in the U.S. were without a home on any given night. This data, collected during an annual survey conducted by volunteers who traverse communities to assess the homeless population, is vital for the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report. This report plays a crucial role in guiding the allocation of resources by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Affordable housing, or the acute lack thereof, is the primary driver of homelessness in the U.S., as identified by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. While mental health and substance abuse issues are often cited in discussions about homelessness, it is the spiraling cost of housing that is more closely linked to the rates of homelessness in cities, more so than poverty levels or the prevalence of substance use and mental health conditions.
Certain demographics are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Individuals from minority communities, those with past incarcerations, and former foster care participants face a higher risk of finding themselves without a home. Homelessness varies greatly across states and cities, reflecting a diverse array of circumstances and contributing factors.
The situation in many cities with the highest homeless counts is not showing promising signs of improvement. In fact, only a handful of the top 25 cities with the largest homeless populations reported a decrease in 2022 compared to 2020. Notably, California is home to six of the top 10 cities with this issue, with Texas cities also making the list.
The following is a ranking of the top 25 major cities in the U.S. with the most substantial homeless populations, based on the latest figures from the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report.
America is facing a growing homelessness problem, with chronic homelessness increasing by 65% since a 2016 low. Unsheltered homelessness, especially prevalent in large cities, is on the rise, though there have been decreases in homelessness among families, children, and veterans. On a single night in January 2022, over 500,000 people were experiencing homelessness in the U.S. The Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, which informs funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, attributes the main cause to a lack of affordable housing. Other factors include mental health, substance abuse, and poverty, but housing costs are more strongly correlated with homelessness rates. People of color, those with incarceration histories, and individuals with foster care backgrounds are at a higher risk of homelessness. There is a wide variation in homeless populations by state and city, with many cities showing no signs of improvement. The report lists the top 25 U.S. cities with the largest homeless populations, with six of the top ten cities located in California.
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