By 2023, homelessness in the U.S. had hit an alarming level, with about 653,104 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. That’s a 12% jump from the previous year, marking the largest spike since 2007, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The general consensus is that most of us are just three paychecks away from homelessness. It’s one of the reasons lots of us prep so diligently – we want to be resilient enough to survive lost jobs, economic downturns, and other sudden emergencies that may otherwise result in homelessness. If you haven’t started prepping already, this is a great incentive to do so. I recognize that not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to protect themselves before a crisis strikes, but if you can, I strongly encourage you to try.
So, what’s behind this surge in homelessness? A lot of it stems from first-time homelessness—folks losing their homes due to a combination of factors. The pandemic safety nets have disappeared, the affordable housing market has tanked, and renting has become even more of a nightmare. HUD’s latest report shows that while 60% of these people manage to find shelter, the remaining 40% are left out in the open.
I looked into HUD’s homelessness data to figure out which states are struggling the most. I looked at the 2023 point-in-time counts and adjusted for state populations using the latest Census Bureau data. The range is pretty shocking, with homelessness rates stretching from as low as 3.3 to a high of 72.5 homeless individuals per 10,000 people, with the national average sitting around 20.
What stands out? States in the Northeast and the West, including far-flung places like Hawaii and Alaska, have some of the highest rates. Meanwhile, states in the South and Midwest tend to have lower homelessness rates, with one exception in the Northeast that bucks the trend.
51. Mississippi
Mississippi has the lowest homelessness rate in the country at 3.3 per 10,000 people. The state’s homeless population stands at 982 individuals, and while over half are sheltered, 45.21% are unsheltered. Mississippi’s poverty rate is one of the highest in the country, and though the homeless numbers are low, they represent only part of the state’s broader struggle with housing and economic instability.
50. Alabama
Alabama’s homelessness rate is 6.5 per 10,000 people, with 3,304 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 55.93% of its homeless population, but over 1,400 people remain unsheltered. Alabama’s low cost of living should help alleviate some housing pressures, but the state still faces challenges in its rural areas where resources are scarce.
49. Louisiana
Louisiana’s homelessness rate is 6.9 per 10,000 people, with 3,169 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 55.85% of its homeless population, but over 1,300 people remain unsheltered. Louisiana’s struggles with poverty and housing instability have only been exacerbated by recent natural disasters, making it harder for many to find stable housing.
48. South Carolina
South Carolina’s homelessness rate is 7.5 per 10,000 people, with 4,053 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters just over two-thirds of its homeless population, but 1,327 people remain unsheltered. With a rapidly growing population, the state needs to increase affordable housing options, especially in its cities.
47. Virginia
Virginia’s homelessness rate is 7.8 per 10,000 people, with 6,761 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters over 80% of its homeless population, but over 1,300 people remain unsheltered. Virginia’s proximity to D.C. means housing costs are inflated, and affordable housing can be hard to come by in both rural and urban areas.
46. West Virginia
West Virginia’s homelessness rate is 8.0 per 10,000 people, with 1,416 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 67.80% of its homeless population, leaving 456 people unsheltered. In a state facing economic struggles, the limited housing options and support services for the homeless remain a significant issue, especially in rural areas.
45. Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s homelessness rate is 8.2 per 10,000 people, with 4,861 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters an impressive 90.58% of its homeless population, but 458 people remain unsheltered. Wisconsin’s high shelter rate is a good model for other states to follow, but rising housing costs, especially in Milwaukee, mean the state can’t afford to rest on its laurels.
44. Iowa
Iowa’s homelessness rate is 8.3 per 10,000 people, with 2,653 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 82.81% of its homeless population, but 456 people remain unsheltered. While Iowa’s rural areas see lower homelessness rates, the lack of affordable housing in cities like Des Moines makes the problem tougher to solve.
43. Connecticut
Connecticut’s homelessness rate is 8.3 per 10,000 people, with 3,015 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 83.38% of its homeless population, but 501 people remain unsheltered. Despite being one of the wealthiest states, Connecticut’s high cost of living leaves many struggling to afford housing, particularly in urban areas like Hartford and New Haven.
42. Arkansas
Arkansas’ homelessness rate is 8.5 per 10,000 people, with 2,609 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters just under 50% of its homeless population, leaving 1,322 people unsheltered. Arkansas’ relatively small population means that even these numbers stretch local resources, especially during severe weather events.
41. Indiana
Indiana’s homelessness rate is 8.8 per 10,000 people, with 6,017 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 80.70% of its homeless population, but over 1,100 people remain unsheltered. Indiana’s relatively low housing costs compared to other states should, in theory, ease homelessness, but the state still faces issues, particularly in its larger cities.
40. Michigan
Michigan’s homelessness rate is 9.0 per 10,000 people, with 8,997 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 85.16% of its homeless population, but 1,335 people remain unsheltered. Michigan’s cities, like Detroit, have faced long-term economic challenges, and the housing market hasn’t fully recovered, leaving many struggling to find affordable homes.
39. Kansas
Kansas has a homelessness rate of 9.0 per 10,000 people, with 2,636 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 71.36% of its homeless population, but 755 people remain unsheltered. Kansas’ rural areas and small urban centers make it tough to provide widespread housing services, though the state’s overall homeless numbers remain relatively low.
38. Texas
Texas has a homelessness rate of 9.0 per 10,000 people, with 27,377 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 57.31% of its homeless population, leaving nearly 11,700 people unsheltered. With its massive population and rapidly growing cities, Texas is seeing increasing demand for affordable housing, making it difficult to keep up with the growing homeless population.
37. North Carolina
North Carolina’s homelessness rate is 9.0 per 10,000 people, with 9,754 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 64.70% of its homeless population, but over 3,400 people remain unsheltered. As cities like Charlotte and Raleigh grow, the rising cost of living is putting more pressure on the state to find long-term housing solutions.
36. Wyoming
Wyoming has the lowest total number of homeless individuals in the country, with just 532 people experiencing homelessness. The state’s homelessness rate is 9.1 per 10,000 people, and Wyoming shelters 89.10% of its homeless population. However, for the 58 people remaining unsheltered, the state’s extreme weather makes homelessness a life-threatening issue.
35. Maryland
Maryland’s homelessness rate is 9.5 per 10,000 people, with 5,865 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 83.77% of its homeless population, but over 900 people remain unsheltered. Maryland’s proximity to D.C. and its growing population make it a hotspot for housing shortages, leading to increased homelessness in some areas.
34. Illinois
Illinois’ homelessness rate is 9.5 per 10,000 people, with 11,947 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 86.45% of its homeless population, but over 1,600 people remain unsheltered. With a large population and high housing costs in cities like Chicago, Illinois faces ongoing challenges in providing enough affordable housing options.
33. Ohio
Ohio’s homelessness rate is 9.7 per 10,000 people, with 11,386 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters nearly 79% of its homeless population, but over 2,400 people remain unsheltered. Ohio’s housing challenges are concentrated in urban areas, where rising rents and limited affordable options are leaving more people without shelter.
32. Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s homelessness rate is 9.7 per 10,000 people, with 12,556 people experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 85.95% of its homeless population, but nearly 1,800 people remain unsheltered. With its large population and growing urban centers, Pennsylvania has a tough task in addressing the need for affordable housing.
31. North Dakota
North Dakota’s homelessness rate is 10.0 per 10,000 people, with 784 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 77.55% of its homeless population, but 176 people remain unsheltered. North Dakota’s small population means that even modest increases in homelessness put pressure on local services, especially in the state’s harsh winters.
30. Kentucky
Kentucky has a homelessness rate of 10.5 per 10,000 people, with 4,766 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters about 69% of its homeless population, leaving over 1,400 people unsheltered. With a lower cost of living than many states, Kentucky’s growing urban centers still face significant hurdles in meeting housing demand.
29. Utah
Utah’s homelessness rate is 10.8 per 10,000 people, with 3,687 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 73.42% of its homeless population, but 980 people remain unsheltered. Utah has made headlines in the past for innovative approaches to homelessness, but as the population grows, so do the housing challenges, and many are still left out.
28. Missouri
Missouri has a homelessness rate of 10.8 per 10,000 people, with 6,708 people experiencing homelessness. Nearly 30% of this population is unsheltered, reflecting the state’s growing housing issues, especially in urban areas like St. Louis. The state shelters about 70% of its homeless population, but there’s still a significant gap that needs to be addressed.
27. New Jersey
New Jersey’s homelessness rate is 11.0 per 10,000 people, with 10,264 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 86.28% of its homeless population, but over 1,400 people remain unsheltered. New Jersey’s proximity to New York City drives up housing costs, making it difficult for low-income individuals to find affordable homes.
26. Georgia
Georgia has a homelessness rate of 11.1 per 10,000 people, with 12,294 people experiencing homelessness. Over 47% of the homeless population remains unsheltered, which is a serious issue in a state that’s seen its cities, especially Atlanta, rapidly expand. The lack of affordable housing is a major driver behind the state’s homelessness challenges.
25. Oklahoma
Oklahoma has a homelessness rate of 11.5 per 10,000 people, with 4,648 individuals experiencing homelessness. Just under 60% are sheltered, but 1,905 people remain unsheltered. With its extreme weather, providing adequate shelter is crucial, and Oklahoma’s housing market hasn’t kept up with the growing demand for affordable homes.
24. Idaho
Idaho has a homelessness rate of 11.7 per 10,000 people, with 2,298 people experiencing homelessness. Only 53.96% of the state’s homeless population is sheltered, meaning nearly half are unsheltered. Idaho’s rapidly growing population, particularly in cities like Boise, has driven up housing costs, making affordable shelter harder to come by.
23. Delaware
Delaware’s homelessness rate is 12.1 per 10,000 people, with 1,245 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 84.10% of its homeless population, but 198 people remain unsheltered. For a state with a small population, even a few hundred unsheltered individuals can strain local resources, especially in colder months.
22. Nebraska
Nebraska’s homelessness rate is 12.4 per 10,000 people, with 2,462 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters a large majority (87.33%) of its homeless population, but 312 people remain unsheltered. Nebraska’s rural landscape and limited urban centers make it tough to provide housing solutions for everyone, even though the overall population is small.
21. Tennessee
Tennessee’s homelessness rate is 12.9 per 10,000 people, with 9,215 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters just over half of its homeless population, but 49.06% remain unsheltered. With Nashville and other cities experiencing rapid growth, the housing crunch is becoming more severe, making it increasingly difficult to provide affordable shelter.
20. Florida
Florida’s homelessness rate is 13.6 per 10,000 people, with 30,756 individuals experiencing homelessness. What’s notable here is the nearly even split between sheltered and unsheltered individuals. While Florida’s mild climate may make outdoor living slightly less dangerous, the growing population and high housing costs are making it harder for the state to provide adequate shelter.
19. South Dakota
South Dakota’s homelessness rate is 13.9 per 10,000 people, with 1,282 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 75.82% of its homeless population, leaving 310 people unsheltered. In a rural state with limited housing resources, providing long-term solutions is a challenge, especially when temperatures drop drastically in winter.
18. Minnesota
Minnesota reports a homelessness rate of 14.6 per 10,000 people, with 8,393 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 80.04% of its homeless population, but 1,676 people remain unsheltered. Given Minnesota’s cold winters, providing shelter is vital, but the growing urban housing shortage makes the problem difficult to solve.
17. Rhode Island
Rhode Island’s homelessness rate is 16.5 per 10,000 people, with 1,810 individuals experiencing homelessness. About 81.55% of them are sheltered, but 334 remain without shelter. Rhode Island’s small size and relatively high cost of living create tough housing market conditions, even for those not facing homelessness.
16. New Hampshire
New Hampshire has a homelessness rate of 17.4 per 10,000 people, with 2,441 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 86.15% of its homeless population, which is crucial given the frigid winters. Still, 338 people remain unsheltered, and in a state with long, harsh winters, that’s a serious concern.
15. New Mexico
New Mexico’s homelessness rate stands at 18.2 per 10,000 people, with 3,842 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state manages to shelter 58.36% of its homeless population, but 41.64% remain unsheltered. New Mexico’s vast desert landscape and high poverty rates make providing adequate services a challenge, even though the population is relatively small.
14. Arizona
Arizona’s homelessness rate is 19.2 per 10,000 people, with 14,237 individuals experiencing homelessness. Shockingly, more than half (53.49%) are unsheltered. In a state where extreme heat can be deadly, living without shelter is especially dangerous. Cities like Phoenix are struggling to provide enough affordable housing for a growing population, making this a critical issue for the state.
13. Montana
Montana reports a homelessness rate of 19.2 per 10,000 people, with 2,178 individuals experiencing homelessness. The state shelters 77.23% of its homeless population, but nearly a quarter remains unsheltered. With a population spread out over vast rural areas, Montana’s small cities struggle to provide the housing and support needed, especially during harsh winters.
12. Colorado
Colorado’s homelessness rate stands at 24.6 per 10,000 people, with 14,439 individuals experiencing homelessness. While 67.14% are sheltered, the remaining 32.86% are not. Colorado’s rapid growth, especially in Denver, has driven up housing costs, leaving the state scrambling to find long-term housing solutions for its homeless population.
11. Nevada
Nevada has a homelessness rate of 27.1 per 10,000 people, with 8,666 people experiencing homelessness. More than half—52.56%—of this population is unsheltered. This is concerning given Nevada’s harsh climate, where extreme heat poses severe risks to those without shelter. With a booming population, particularly in Las Vegas, Nevada has a tough road ahead in creating enough affordable housing.
10. Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a homelessness rate of 27.3 per 10,000 people, with 19,141 individuals experiencing homelessness. Over 92% of this group is sheltered, reflecting the state’s strong support systems. However, with a large population and high housing costs in cities like Boston, Massachusetts faces ongoing pressure to provide affordable housing, especially as 1,362 people remain unsheltered.
9. Maine
Maine reports a homelessness rate of 30.5 per 10,000, with 4,258 people without homes. Impressively, 93% are sheltered, which is essential in a state known for its bitterly cold winters. Only 299 individuals remain unsheltered, but the relatively small population means even these numbers can strain local resources, especially during the colder months.
8. Alaska
Alaska, with its harsh climate, has a homelessness rate of 35.6 per 10,000 people. The state’s population of 2,614 homeless individuals is relatively small, but given Alaska’s extreme weather conditions, it’s crucial that 82.1% are sheltered. Still, 468 people remain unsheltered, facing brutal winters where being outdoors is not just uncomfortable but life-threatening. Alaska’s geographical isolation and limited housing stock make providing affordable housing even more of a challenge.
7. Washington
Washington state’s homelessness rate sits at 35.9 per 10,000 people, with 28,036 individuals experiencing homelessness. What’s unique here is the almost even split between sheltered and unsheltered populations, which suggests that while the state has some effective systems in place, nearly half still go without shelter. As the housing market continues to heat up in cities like Seattle, the problem is likely to worsen without significant intervention.
6. Hawaii
Hawaii’s homelessness rate is 43.4 per 10,000 residents, with 6,223 people experiencing homelessness. More than 62% of those are unsheltered, which might surprise some given the state’s year-round mild weather. But Hawaii also has the highest cost of living in the country, making housing simply unaffordable for many. The beautiful beaches and scenery mask the underlying housing crisis that many face daily.
5. California
California holds the unfortunate title of having the highest number of homeless individuals in the country at 181,399. The state’s homelessness rate is 46.6 per 10,000 people, and a shocking 68.04% of the homeless population remains unsheltered. This is the stark reality in a state where the cost of living continues to skyrocket, and affordable housing options are increasingly scarce. With nearly 70% of those experiencing homelessness lacking shelter, the need for urgent, innovative solutions in California can’t be overstated.
4. Oregon
Oregon’s homelessness rate is 47.6 per 10,000 people, with a total of 20,142 homeless individuals. Here, the numbers are striking because over 64% of the homeless population is unsheltered. Given the state’s wet and cold climate, living outdoors is dangerous. Affordable housing in places like Portland is scarce, and the issue seems to be getting worse despite efforts to find long-term solutions.
3. Vermont
Vermont, despite its small size, faces a significant homelessness challenge with 50.9 homeless individuals per 10,000 people. That adds up to 3,295 people, or 0.51% of the population. Vermont does a good job of sheltering 95.84% of its homeless population, but the state’s limited housing stock and rural nature make it tough to house everyone—137 people remain unsheltered.
2. New York
New York has a homelessness rate of 52.7 per 10,000 people, and its total homeless population stands at a jaw-dropping 103,200—about 0.52% of the state’s residents. What stands out here is how many people New York manages to shelter: a whopping 95.15%. But with over 5,000 still unsheltered, the state, especially New York City, faces an uphill battle due to sky-high rents and housing shortages.
1. District of Columbia
D.C. tops the list with a homelessness rate of 72.5 per 10,000 people, meaning 4,922 individuals in the nation’s capital are without homes. This translates to 0.74% of the population, which is enormous for such a small area. Despite efforts to shelter 83.23% of this group, 825 people remain unsheltered. D.C.’s compact size and high population density create unique challenges, but these numbers underscore how critical it is for the city to focus on getting people off the streets.
