The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

2State 1National Estimates
Homeless Individuals
Homelessness in the United States
Data source: PIT 2007–2017; Excludes Puerto Rico and U.S. territories
EXHIBIT 2.5: Estimates of Homeless Individuals
By State, 2017
AK
1,354
WA
14,781
OR
10,434 ID
1,309
NV
7,281 UT
1,882
CA
112,756
AZ
6,488
MT
987
WY
622
CO
7,571
NM
1,865
ME, 1,352
ND
VT, 697
832 MN
NH, 776
3,899
NY MA, 6,267
SD
WI
611
2,645 MI
37,390 RI, 802
5,628
CT, 2,208
IA
PA
NE 1,500 IL OH 8,271 NJ, 5,433
1,698
6,894 IN 6,688
DE, 615
3,623 WV MD, 5,077
1,032
VA
KS MO
KY 4,028
DC, 3,583
1,423 3,768 3,032
NC, 6,044
Share of Homeless Individuals
OK
TN, 6,137
AR
2,824
SC
Less than 1%
2,068 AL 2,896
1%–2.9%
2,985 GA
MS 7,422
3%–6%
TX
1,100
16,708
LA
Greater than 6%
2,559
FL 22,768
HI
4,535
On a Single Night in January 2017
• California accounted for 31 percent of all people
experiencing homelessness as individuals
in the United States and 51 percent of all
unsheltered individuals.
• More than half of all the nation’s homeless
individuals were in four states: California (31%
or 112,756 people), New York (10% or 37,390
people), Florida (6% or 22,768 people), and
Texas (5% or 16,708).
• In eight states, more than half of individuals
experiencing homelessness were staying in
unsheltered locations: California (78%), Hawaii
(72%), Nevada (63%), Oregon (59%), Mississippi,
(59%), Arkansas (55%), Washington (54%), and
Florida (52%).
Changes Over Time
• Between 2016 and 2017, the number of
individuals experiencing homelessness
increased in 22 states. The largest absolute
increases were in California (15,096 people),
New York (2,075 people), and Colorado (1,121
people). The states with the largest percentage
increases were North Dakota (26%), Wyoming
(20%), and New Mexico (20%).
• The number of homeless individuals declined
between 2016 and 2017 in 28 states and the
District of Columbia. The largest absolute
declines occurred in Georgia (1,843 fewer
people), Florida (1,433 fewer people), and
South Carolina (862 fewer people). The largest
percentage declines were in South Carolina
(23%), Georgia (20%), and Louisiana (19%).
• In 23 states, the number of individuals
experiencing homelessness increased between
2007 and 2017. The largest increase was in
New York (9,334 more people), a 33 percent
rise. California and Washington also had large
increases (1,804 and 1,492 more people).
• During the same ten-year period, 27 states and
the District of Columbia experienced a decline
in the number of homeless individuals. The
largest declines were experienced in Florida
(10,272), Texas (9,598), and Georgia (5,099).
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