The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

3National 1National Estimates
Homelessness Families in the with United Children States
Data source: PIT 2007–2017; Excludes Puerto Rico and U.S. territories
EXHIBIT 3.6: Estimates of Family Homelessness
By State, 2017
WA
6,331
OR
3,519
NV
552
CA
21,522
AK
491
ID
728
UT
970
AZ
2,459
MT
542
WY
251
CO
3,369
NM
617
ME, 928
ND
VT, 528
257 MN
NH, 680
3,769
NY MA, 11,298
SD
WI
332
2,382 MI
52,113 RI, 378
3,423
CT, 1,180
IA
PA
NE
5,867 NJ, 3,103
1,256 IL OH
803
3,904 IN 3,407
DE, 379
1,815 WV MD, 2,170
277
VA
KS MO
KY 2,039
DC, 3,890
864 2,269 993
Share of Homeless
NC, 2,918
People in Families
OK
TN, 2,172
1,375
AR
SC
Less than 1%
399 AL 1,020
1%–2.9%
MS 808 GA
TX
372 2,752
3%–6%
LA
Greater than 6%
6,840
746
FL
9,422
HI
2,685
On a Single Night in 2017
• Nearly 30 percent of all people in families with
children experiencing homelessness were in
New York, or 52,113 people. All but 55 people
(or 0.1%) were staying in sheltered locations.
• More than half of all homeless people in
families with children were in four states: New
York (29% or 52,113 people), California (12% or
21,522 people), Massachusetts (6% or 11,298
people), and Florida (5% or 9,422 people).
• California, Florida, Oregon, and Colorado
together accounted for nearly two-thirds of all
unsheltered people in families with children
(63%).
• In five states, more than one third of people
experiencing homelessness in families with
children were unsheltered: North Dakota
(58%), Oregon (52%), Wyoming (49%), Montana
(35%), and Florida (34%). These rates were
considerably higher than the national rate of
just under 10 percent.
Changes Over Time
• Between 2016 and 2017, 13 states had
increases in the number of people in families
with children experiencing homelessness.
The largest increases were in New York and
California, each which had more than 1,000
more homeless people in families in 2017 than
in 2016.
• Thirty-seven states and the District of
Columbia experienced declines between 2016
and 2017. Massachusetts experienced the
largest decline in homeless people in families,
with 1,876 fewer people in 2017, a 14 percent
decline. Other states with large declines in
homeless people in families with children
were Georgia (892 fewer people or 25%),
Pennsylvania (873 fewer people or 13%), and
the District of Columbia (777 fewer people or
17%).
• Over a longer period, 2007-2017, the number of
people experiencing homelessness in families
with children increased in 13 states. New York
experienced the largest increase, with 17,568
36