The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

6National 1National Estimates
Homelessness Chronically Homeless in the United Individuals States
Data source: PIT 2007–2017
EXHIBIT 6.1: PIT Estimates of
Chronically Homeless Individuals
By Sheltered Status, 2007–2017
119,813 120,115
107,212
106,062
86,289
86,962
78,045
96,268
83,170
74,697
61,620 62,733 64,551 83,989
63,621 77,486
56,87152,786
60,333
54,815 52,890
41,768 45,418 45,592
43,329
103,522
38,971 32,647
29,418 31,203
28,355 24,596 26,629
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Chronically Homeless Individuals
Sheltered Chronically Homeless Individuals
Unsheltered Chronically Homeless Individuals
On a Single Night in January 2017
• Nearly one-quarter of individuals experiencing
homelessness had chronic patterns of
150000 homelessness (86,962 of 369,081 homeless
individuals, or 24%).
120000 • Nearly seven in ten chronically homeless
individuals (69% or 60,333 people) were
90000 staying in unsheltered locations such as under
bridges, in cars, or in abandoned buildings.
60000
This is much higher than the unsheltered rate
for all people experiencing homelessness as
individuals in the United States, which was 48
30000
percent.
Since 2016:
• For the first time since 2008, the number
of individuals with chronic patterns of
homelessness increased. Between 2016 and
2017, chronic homelessness increased by 12
percent overall (or by 9,476 people), by eight
percent (or 2,033) among sheltered individuals,
and by 14 percent (or 7,443 people) among
unsheltered individuals.
• Individuals with chronic patterns of
homelessness made up a slightly larger share
of all homeless individuals in 2017 (24%) than
in 2016 (22%).
Since 2007:
• While chronic homelessness increased recently,
27 percent fewer individuals had chronic
patterns of homelessness in 2017 than did in
2007, a decline of 32,851 people. The number
of individuals who were unsheltered and
chronically homeless decreased by 17,712
(23%), and the number of sheltered chronically
homeless individuals declined by 15,139 (36%).
• Between 2007 and 2017, the share of
individuals experiencing homelessness who
had chronic patterns of homelessness declined
from 29 percent to 24 percent.
• The share of chronically homeless individuals
who were unsheltered was higher in 2017
(69%) than in 2007 (65%).
0
EXHIBIT 6.2: Change in Numbers of Chronically Homeless Individuals
By Sheltered Status, 2007–2017
Total Chronically
Homeless Individuals
Sheltered Chronically
Homeless Individuals
Unsheltered
Chronically Homeless
Individuals
Change 2016–2017 Change 2010–2017 Change 2007–2017
# % # % # %
9,476 12.2% -19,100 -18.0% -32,851 -27.4%
2,033 8.3% -16,700 -38.5% -15,139 -36.2%
7,443 14.1% -2,400 -3.8% -17,712 -22.7%
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