who are the homeless?
Various factors contribute to the issue of homelessness, but the primary catalyst remains the inability to access safe, stable, and affordable housing. Additionally, contributors include chronic physical and mental health challenges, domestic violence, substance use, systemic racism, and inequities in income and opportunity.
According to the 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, approximately 653,100 people were experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night in January 2024—the highest number recorded since nationwide reporting began in 2007. This reflects a 12% increase from 2023.
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Individual adults make up about 68% of the homeless population.
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Families with children account for 30% of the population.
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Unaccompanied youth (under 25) represent about 6%.
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Veterans comprise roughly 8%.
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Chronic homelessness—defined as long-term or repeated homelessness combined with a disabling condition—affects over 141,400 people, a record high.
Racial and ethnic disparities remain stark:
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Black Americans make up 12% of the U.S. population but account for 37% of all people experiencing homelessness.
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Indigenous people and those identifying as multiracial are also overrepresented.
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Latinx individuals continue to face higher rates of homelessness relative to their proportion of the population.
In New York City, the 2024 HOPE (Homeless Outreach Population Estimate) Count estimated that 4,140 individuals were unsheltered—sleeping in streets, subways, and other public spaces—on the night of January 22, 2024. This figure represents a 24% increase from the 2023 count, despite the City’s significant investments in outreach and shelter capacity.
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New York City continues to have the largest homeless population in the U.S., with over 90,000 individuals (including more than 34,000 children) staying in the shelter system on any given night as of March 2024.
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The harsh reality is that for too many Americans, homelessness is only one paycheck, illness, or crisis away. While most homelessness is brief and non-recurring, many individuals face longer-term or cyclical homelessness due to structural and personal vulnerabilities.
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At Housing and Services, Inc. (HSI), we prioritize serving populations at greatest risk of chronic or repeat homelessness:
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Individuals who have lived on the streets for years
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People with serious and persistent mental illness and/or substance use disorders
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Families and individuals living with HIV/AIDS
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Very low-income seniors
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Veterans with traumatic combat experiences
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Homelessness can happen to anyone.
No one should spend a single night without a safe place to sleep.