The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

experiencing homelessness were Hispanic or Latino, 3% were Native American, 2%
were of Pacific Islander descent, and 1% were of Asian descent. Men represented 60%
of those counted; 40% were women, and less than 1% were transgender.
Geographically, New York, Florida, and California had the highest numbers of people
experiencing homelessness, although significant increases in the number of homeless
people were seen in rural states such as Idaho, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. The count
included 39,471 veterans, with 8% of that total accounted for by female veterans. Of all
homeless individuals, almost 121,000 were children (22% of the total), 35,686 (7%)
were unaccompanied young people 18 to 24 years of age, and more than a third were
experiencing homelessness as part of a family. It is important to note that these figures
capture a single point in time, and millions more adults and children experience
episodes of homelessness during a given year or are at risk of experiencing
homelessness as a result of financial and housing instability.
It is difficult to obtain accurate data on the prevalence of youth homelessness in the
United States; according to estimates, however. between 500,000 and 2.1 million young
people 13 to 21 years old are homeless. Homeless youths are typically defined as
unaccompanied individuals 12 years or older (up to age 17, 21, or 25) who live in
shelters, on the street, or in other unstable living conditions without family support.
Overall, homeless youths are more likely than their housed counterparts to experience
negative health outcomes, including chronic health conditions or problems such as HIV,
substance abuse, violence, and mental health issues. Such risks are a consequence of
street-entrenched lifestyles as well as early childhood traumas including family
breakdowns, discrimination, and poverty. In addition, historically marginalized groups
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