It is a common misconception that people who are homeless opt to be in this living situation. This is one of several myths that perpetuate the problem. Homelessness is usually not a choice. According to Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there were 653,100 homeless people in 2023, an increase of 12% from the previous year and is at its highest point since 2007. Â A disproportionate amount of the homeless population identifies as Black or indigenous (including Native Americans and Pacific Islanders). The number of veterans experiencing homelessness has also increased since 2022, up 7.4%.
About 60% of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 had access to, or found sanctuary in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, or safe havens, while the remaining 40% were unsheltered. Rates of unsheltered homelessness, which includes those sleeping on the streets, in abandoned buildings, and wooded areas, are also on the rise. These are the states with the most unsheltered homeless people.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed The 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to find the state with the most homeless people. To account for population size, states and the District of Columbia are ranked by the rate of homelessness in each state, that is the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2023 per 10,000 residents. All data is from the report.
Rates of homelessness are dramatically different in certain regions. Northern states of Maine, Vermont, and Delaware doubled their homeless population, and the highest concentration of homeless families is in the North as well, with New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, and Maine accounting for 40% of the homeless population. While the highest rate of habitual homelessness is found on the West Coast.Â
California has the largest homeless population with estimates at 181,399 people, with 68% of them unsheltered. The next state with the highest number is New York, with the majority of the 90,5578 people experiencing homelessness in New York living in New York City. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, these numbers are currently at their highest rate since the Great Depression. Across the nation, about 60% of the unsheltered homeless population lives in urban areas. These are the American cities with the highest poverty rates.
People are often hesitant to help the homeless, but those who are experiencing homelessness deserve kindness, just like we all do. There may be many factors that can contribute to a lack of permanent dwelling, but especially due to cost-of-living increases, many families find themselves out of homes during the holiday season. Christmas is typically a time when many of us are more aware of this situation and may be more likely to help those in need. Any act of kindness, however big or small, is always positive, now and throughout the year.  Â
Here to see the state with the most homeless people.Â
51. Mississippi
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 4.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,196 (2nd lowest)
- Change from 2020: +8.0%
- Number sheltered: 435 or 36.4%
- Number unsheltered: 761 or 63.6%
50. South Carolina
- Rate of homelessness: 7.0 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 3,608 (19th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -15.8%
- Number sheltered: 2,374 or 34.2%
- Number unsheltered: 1,234 or 65.8%
49. Illinois
Source: daquellamanera / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness: 7.3 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 9,212 (15th highest)
- Change from 2020: -11.7%
- Number sheltered: 7,311 or 79.4%
- Number unsheltered: 1,901 or 20.6%
48. Alabama
Source: Shackleford-Photography / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 7.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 3,752 (20th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +12.0%
- Number sheltered: 2,172 or 57.9%
- Number unsheltered: 1,580 or 42.1%
46. Iowa
- Rate of homelessness: 7.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,419 (13th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -8.6%
- Number sheltered: 2,013 or 16.8%
- Number unsheltered: 406 or 83.2%
46. Virginia
Source: John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 7.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 6,529 (21st highest)
- Change from 2020: +9.6%
- Number sheltered: 5,844 or 89.5%
- Number unsheltered: 685 or 10.5%
45. West Virginia
Source: Wirestock / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 7.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,375 (3rd lowest)
- Change from 2020: +2.5%
- Number sheltered: 976 or 71.0%
- Number unsheltered: 399 or 29.0%
44. North Dakota
Source: bodnarchuk / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 7.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 610 (the lowest)
- Change from 2020: +12.8%
- Number sheltered: 527 or 86.4%
- Number unsheltered: 83 or 13.6%
43. Indiana
Source: damircudic / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.0 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 5,449 (24th highest)
- Change from 2020: -3.1%
- Number sheltered: 4,650 or 85.3%
- Number unsheltered: 799 or 14.7%
40. Arkansas
- Rate of homelessness: 8.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,459 (14th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +3.9%
- Number sheltered: 1,163 or 47.3%
- Number unsheltered: 1,296 or 52.7%
40. Connecticut
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,930 (17th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +0.9%
- Number sheltered: 2,636 or 90.0%
- Number unsheltered: 294 or 10.0%
40. Wisconsin
- Rate of homelessness: 8.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 4,775 (25th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +5.8%
- Number sheltered: 4,474 or 93.7%
- Number unsheltered: 301 or 6.3%
38. Kansas
Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.2 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,397 (12th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -2.1%
- Number sheltered: 1,699 or 70.9%
- Number unsheltered: 698 or 29.1%
38. Michigan
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.2 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 8,206 (17th highest)
- Change from 2020: -5.0%
- Number sheltered: 7,306 or 89.0%
- Number unsheltered: 900 or 11.0%
37. Texas
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.3 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 24,432 (5th highest)
- Change from 2020: -10.3%
- Number sheltered: 13,461 or 55.1%
- Number unsheltered: 10,971 or 44.9%
36. Maryland
- Rate of homelessness: 8.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 5,349 (25th highest)
- Change from 2020: -15.9%
- Number sheltered: 4,458 or 16.7%
- Number unsheltered: 891 or 83.3%
35. Kentucky
Source: JerryGrugin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.8 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 3,984 (22nd lowest)
- Change from 2020: -0.7%
- Number sheltered: 2,900 or 72.8%
- Number unsheltered: 1,084 or 27.2%
34. North Carolina
Source: Hagercod42 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 8.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 9,382 (14th highest)
- Change from 2020: +1.1%
- Number sheltered: 5,757 or 61.4%
- Number unsheltered: 3,625 or 38.6%
33. Ohio
Source: Jason Whitman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 9.0 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 10,654 (11th highest)
- Change from 2020: +0.0%
- Number sheltered: 8,706 or 18.3%
- Number unsheltered: 1,948 or 81.7%
31. New Jersey
Source: thenationalguard / Flickr
- Rate of homelessness: 9.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 8,752 (16th highest)
- Change from 2020: -9.4%
- Number sheltered: 7,776 or 11.2%
- Number unsheltered: 976 or 88.8%
31. Oklahoma
Source: Brett Deering / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 9.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 3,754 (21st lowest)
- Change from 2020: -4.5%
- Number sheltered: 2,437 or 64.9%
- Number unsheltered: 1,317 or 35.1%
30. Missouri
- Rate of homelessness: 9.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 5,992 (22nd highest)
- Change from 2020: -8.2%
- Number sheltered: 4,391 or 26.7%
- Number unsheltered: 1,601 or 73.3%
29. Pennsylvania
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 9.8 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 12,691 (9th highest)
- Change from 2020: -5.1%
- Number sheltered: 11,085 or 87.3%
- Number unsheltered: 1,606 or 12.7%
28. Georgia
- Rate of homelessness: 9.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 10,689 (10th highest)
- Change from 2020: +4.4%
- Number sheltered: 5,154 or 51.8%
- Number unsheltered: 5,535 or 48.2%
27. Idaho
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 10.5 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,998 (8th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -13.7%
- Number sheltered: 1,110 or 55.6%
- Number unsheltered: 888 or 44.4%
26. Utah
Source: Joey Ingelhart / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 10.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 3,557 (18th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +13.6%
- Number sheltered: 2,684 or 75.5%
- Number unsheltered: 873 or 24.5%
25. Wyoming
- Rate of homelessness: 11.2 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 648 (the lowest)
- Change from 2020: +5.9%
- Number sheltered: 584 or 9.9%
- Number unsheltered: 64 or 90.1%
24. Nebraska
Source: Wanda Jewell / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 11.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,246 (9th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -6.6%
- Number sheltered: 2,030 or 90.4%
- Number unsheltered: 216 or 9.6%
23. New Hampshire
Source: John Gress / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 11.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,605 (7th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -4.2%
- Number sheltered: 1,274 or 79.4%
- Number unsheltered: 331 or 20.6%
22. Florida
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 11.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 25,959 (3rd highest)
- Change from 2020: -5.6%
- Number sheltered: 14,213 or 54.8%
- Number unsheltered: 11,746 or 45.2%
21. New Mexico
Source: amygdala_imagery / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 12.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,560 (15th lowest)
- Change from 2020: -23.2%
- Number sheltered: 2,006 or 78.4%
- Number unsheltered: 554 or 21.6%
20. Minnesota
Source: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 13.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 7,917 (18th highest)
- Change from 2020: -0.3%
- Number sheltered: 6,148 or 77.7%
- Number unsheltered: 1,769 or 22.3%
18. Montana
- Rate of homelessness: 14.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,585 (6th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +2.6%
- Number sheltered: 1,292 or 81.5%
- Number unsheltered: 293 or 18.5%
18. Rhode Island
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 14.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,577 (5th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +42.8%
- Number sheltered: 1,329 or 84.3%
- Number unsheltered: 248 or 15.7%
17. Tennessee
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 15.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 10,567 (12th highest)
- Change from 2020: +45.6%
- Number sheltered: 4,434 or 42.0%
- Number unsheltered: 6,133 or 58.0%
16. South Dakota
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 15.5 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 1,389 (4th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +31.3%
- Number sheltered: 1,047 or 75.4%
- Number unsheltered: 342 or 24.6%
15. Louisiana
Source: sfe-co2 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 15.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 7,373 (20th highest)
- Change from 2020: +132.4%
- Number sheltered: 6,138 or 83.2%
- Number unsheltered: 1,235 or 16.8%
14. Colorado
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 17.9 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 10,397 (13th highest)
- Change from 2020: +5.6%
- Number sheltered: 7,241 or 30.4%
- Number unsheltered: 3,156 or 69.6%
13. Arizona
Source: Gregory Clifford / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 18.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 13,553 (8th highest)
- Change from 2020: +23.4%
- Number sheltered: 5,526 or 59.2%
- Number unsheltered: 8,027 or 40.8%
12. Massachusetts
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 22.2 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 15,507 (7th highest)
- Change from 2020: -13.7%
- Number sheltered: 14,372 or 92.7%
- Number unsheltered: 1,135 or 7.3%
11. Delaware
Source: Paul Bradbury / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 23.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,369 (11th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +103.3%
- Number sheltered: 2,215 or 93.5%
- Number unsheltered: 154 or 6.5%
10. Nevada
Source: Max Whittaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 24.2 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 7,618 (19th highest)
- Change from 2020: +10.4%
- Number sheltered: 4,051 or 53.2%
- Number unsheltered: 3,567 or 46.8%
9. Alaska
Source: lippyjr / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 31.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,320 (10th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +19.0%
- Number sheltered: 1,963 or 84.6%
- Number unsheltered: 357 or 15.4%
8. Maine
- Rate of homelessness: 32.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 4,411 (24th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +110.3%
- Number sheltered: 4,247 or 96.3%
- Number unsheltered: 164 or 3.7%
7. Washington
- Rate of homelessness: 32.6 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 25,211 (4th highest)
- Change from 2020: +10.0%
- Number sheltered: 12,543 or 49.8%
- Number unsheltered: 12,668 or 50.2%
6. New York
Source: Eric Kitayama / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 37.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 74,178 (2nd highest)
- Change from 2020: -18.7%
- Number sheltered: 70,140 or 94.6%
- Number unsheltered: 4,038 or 5.4%
5. Hawaii
Source: nojustice / iStock via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 41.4 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 5,967 (23rd highest)
- Change from 2020: -7.6%
- Number sheltered: 2,224 or 37.3%
- Number unsheltered: 3,743 or 62.7%
4. Oregon
Source: hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 42.3 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 17,959 (6th highest)
- Change from 2020: +22.5%
- Number sheltered: 6,871 or 38.3%
- Number unsheltered: 11,088 or 61.7%
3. Vermont
- Rate of homelessness: 43.1 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 2,780 (16th lowest)
- Change from 2020: +150.5%
- Number sheltered: 2,735 or 1.6%
- Number unsheltered: 45 or 98.4%
2. California
Source: David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 43.7 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 171,521 (the highest)
- Change from 2020: +6.2%
- Number sheltered: 56,030 or 32.7%
- Number unsheltered: 115,491 or 67.3%
1. District of Columbia
Source: Bettmann / Getty Images
- Rate of homelessness: 65.8 in every 10,000 people
- Est. number of people experiencing homelessness, 2022: 4,410 (23rd lowest)
- Change from 2020: -30.9%
- Number sheltered: 3,720 or 84.4%
- Number unsheltered: 690 or 15.6%
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