Special Report

Major American Cities Struggling to Shelter Growing Homeless Populations

Thomas C. Frohlich

Published: October 9, 2018 4:59 pm

Last Updated: January 11, 2020 4:40 pm

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States last year increased for the first time in seven years. More than half a million Americans lack permanent shelter, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The rise in homelessness was the result of more individuals staying in unsheltered locations in major cities, according to HUD.

The problem of homelessness is at its root a problem of affordable housing. According to statistics compiled by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 11 million low-income households spend half or more of their annual income on housing. As housing prices — especially in large cities — continue to rise faster than incomes, more people are likely to become homeless.

There are serious health risks associated with homelessness, which increases exposure to weather and disease. Homelessness also can lead to and is often accompanied by untreated medical issues, mental illness, social isolation, and increased risk of substance use disorders. While the number of families with children experiencing homelessness declined between 2016 and 2017, a large share of the country’s homeless population are children. Approximately 184,661 people in families with children experience homelessness, or about one-third of the total homeless population.

Among the myriad government anti-poverty programs is the Continuum of Care Program, which was designed by HUD to promote community efforts across the nation to end homelessness. Federal funds are dispersed through these jurisdictions to the communities they contain — cities, counties, and sometimes entire states.

Using data provided by HUD, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the estimated total number of individuals experiencing homelessness in the 48 HUD jurisdictions (Continuums of Care) representing the 50 largest cities in America. City population data is for the city proper and came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 American Community Survey. Cities are ranked by population, in ascending order.

Click here to see the major American cities struggling to shelter growing homeless populations.

Source: Thinkstock

48. Wichita, Kansas
> Note: Includes surrounding Sedgwick County
> Homeless population: 575 (includes 111 unsheltered)
> City population: 390,599

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47. New Orleans, Louisiana
> Note: Includes surrounding Jefferson Parish
> Homeless population: 1,301 (includes 525 unsheltered)
> City population: 393,292

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46. Tulsa, Oklahoma
> Note: Includes Broken Arrow
> Homeless population: 1,074 (includes 174 unsheltered)
> City population: 402,227

Source: RudyBalasko / iStock

45. Minneapolis, Minnesota
> Note: Includes surrounding Hennepin County
> Homeless population: 3,057 (includes 298 unsheltered)
> City population: 422,326

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44. Oakland, California
> Note: Includes surrounding Alameda County
> Homeless population: 5,629 (includes 3,863 unsheltered)
> City population: 425,204

Source: Thinkstock

43. Virginia Beach, Virginia
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 349 (includes 78 unsheltered)
> City population: 450,435

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42. Miami, Florida
> Note: Includes surrounding Dade County
> Homeless population: 3,721 (includes 1,011 unsheltered)
> City population: 463,354

Source: David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons

41. Colorado Springs, Colorado
> Note: Includes surrounding El Paso County
> Homeless population: 1,415 (includes 457 unsheltered)
> City population: 464,470

Source: Thinkstock

40. Raleigh, North Carolina
> Note: Includes surrounding Wake County
> Homeless population: 884 (includes 188 unsheltered)
> City population: 464,972

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39. Omaha, Nebraska
> Note: Includes Council Bluffs
> Homeless population: 1,389 (includes 57 unsheltered)
> City population: 466,903

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

38. Long Beach, California
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 1,863 (includes 1,208 unsheltered)
> City population: 469,459

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37. Atlanta, Georgia
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 3,572 (includes 681 unsheltered)
> City population: 486,299

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36. Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas
> Note: Includes Independence, Lee’s Summit, as well as Jackson and Wyandotte counties
> Homeless population: 1,671 (includes 229 unsheltered)
> City population: 488,825

Source: Toribio93 / Shutterstock.com

35. Sacramento, California
> Note: Includes surrounding Sacramento County
> Homeless population: 3,665 (includes 2,052 unsheltered)
> City population: 501,890

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34. Fresno, California
> Note: Includes Madera County
> Homeless population: 2,016 (includes 1,529 unsheltered)
> City population: 527,422

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33. Tucson, Arizona
> Note: Includes surrounding Pima County
> Homeless population: 1,574 (includes 385 unsheltered)
> City population: 535,676

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32. Albuquerque, New Mexico
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 1,318 (includes 384 unsheltered)
> City population: 558,558

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31. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> Note: Includes surrounding Milwaukee County
> Homeless population: 900 (includes 135 unsheltered)
> City population: 595,365

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

30. Baltimore, Maryland
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 2,669 (includes 546 unsheltered)
> City population: 611,648

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29. Louisville, Kentucky
> Note: Includes surrounding Jefferson County
> Homeless population: 1,034 (includes 151 unsheltered)
> City population: 621,337

Source: Thinkstock

28. Las Vegas, Nevada
> Note: Includes surrounding Clark County
> Homeless population: 6,490 (includes 4,353 unsheltered)
> City population: 641,708

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27. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 1,368 (includes 268 unsheltered)
> City population: 643,574

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26. Portland, Oregon
> Note: Includes surrounding Multnomah County
> Homeless population: 4,177 (includes 1,668 unsheltered)
> City population: 648,121

Source: Thinkstock

25. Memphis, Tennessee
> Note: Includes surrounding Shelby County
> Homeless population: 1,426 (includes 79 unsheltered)
> City population: 652,231

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24. Nashville, Tennessee
> Note: Includes surrounding Davidson County
> Homeless population: 2,337 (includes 639 unsheltered)
> City population: 665,967

Source: Thinkstock

23. Detroit, Michigan
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 2,078 (includes 220 unsheltered)
> City population: 673,103

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22. Boston, Massachusetts
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 6,135 (includes 186 unsheltered)
> City population: 683,015

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21. El Paso, Texas
> Note: Includes surrounding El Paso County
> Homeless population: 1,193 (includes 177 unsheltered)
> City population: 683,583

Source: Thinkstock

20. Washington, D.C.
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 7,473 (includes 897 unsheltered)
> City population: 693,972

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19. Denver, Colorado
> Note: Counted by Metropolitan Denver Homeless Initiative
> Homeless population: 5,506 (includes 894 unsheltered)
> City population: 704,621

Source: aiisha5 / Getty Images

18. Seattle, Washington
> Note: Includes surrounding King County
> Homeless population: 11,643 (includes 5,485 unsheltered)
> City population: 724,764

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17. Indianapolis, Indiana
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 1,783 (includes 126 unsheltered)
> City population: 857,386

Source: digidreamgrafix / iStock

16. Charlotte, North Carolina
> Note: Includes surrounding Mecklenberg County
> Homeless population: 1,476 (includes 215 unsheltered)
> City population: 859,052

Source: typhoonski / iStock

15. Fort Worth, Texas
> Note: Includes Arlington as well as surrounding Tarrant County
> Homeless population: 1,941 (includes 390 unsheltered)
> City population: 876,060

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14. Columbus, Ohio
> Note: Includes surrounding Franklin County
> Homeless population: 1,691 (includes 340 unsheltered)
> City population: 881,901

Source: bluejayphoto / Getty Images

13. San Francisco, California
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 6,858 (includes 4,353 unsheltered)
> City population: 884,363

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12. Jacksonville, Florida
> Note: Includes surrounding Duval County as well as Clay County
> Homeless population: 1,869 (includes 432 unsheltered)
> City population: 892,064

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11. Austin, Texas
> Note: Austin/Travis County CoC, TX
> Homeless population: 2,036 (includes 834 unsheltered)
> City population: 950,714

Source: SpVVK / Getty Images

10. San Jose, California
> Note: Includes Santa Clara as well as surrounding Santa Clara County
> Homeless population: 7,394 (includes 5,448 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,035,353

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9. Dallas, Texas
> Note: Includes Irving as well as surrounding Dallas County
> Homeless population: 3,789 (includes 1,087 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,341,103

Source: Thinkstock

8. San Diego, California
> Note: Includes surrounding San Diego County
> Homeless population: 9,160 (includes 5,621 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,419,488

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7. San Antonio, Texas
> Note: Includes surrounding Bexar County
> Homeless population: 2,743 (includes 1,102 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,511,913

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6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 5,693 (includes 956 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,580,863

Source: miroslav_1 / Getty Images

5. Phoenix, Arizona
> Note: Includes surrounding Maricopa County
> Homeless population: 5,605 (includes 2,059 unsheltered)
> City population: 1,626,085

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4. Houston, Texas
> Note: Includes Pasadena, Conroe, Harris, as well as surrounding Ft. Bend and Montgomery counties
> Homeless population: 3,605 (includes 1,128 unsheltered)
> City population: 2,313,230

Source: RudyBalasko / Getty Images

3. Chicago, Illinois
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 5,657 (includes 1,561 unsheltered)
> City population: 2,716,462

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2. Los Angeles, California
> Note: Includes surrounding LA County
> Homeless population: 55,188 (includes 41,216 unsheltered)
> City population: 3,999,742

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1. New York City, New York
> Note: N/A
> Homeless population: 76,501 (includes 3,936 unsheltered)
> City population: 8,622,698