Lisa O.
About 649,535 people in the U.S. are currently homeless, which is a 12.42% increase from 2022 and a 15.54% jump from 2019. On average, there are around 19.4 homeless individuals for every 10,000 people nationwide. California, New York, and Florida have the largest homeless populations, with more than 315,000 homeless individuals combined—making up nearly half of the total homeless population in the country. Here are 22 U.S. cities with the highest numbers of homeless people!
(Based on a report by National Alliance to End Homelessness)
Sacramento, California
Sacramento County’s homeless population shot up by 67% between 2019 and 2022, hitting 9,278 people. A huge 72% of these people are living without shelter, giving Sacramento one of the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness in the country. The number of people dealing with chronic homelessness in the area also more than doubled during this time.
(Based on report by Sacramento Steps Forward)
New York City, New York
As of 2022, New York City had the largest homeless population in the U.S., with around 63,000 people staying in shelters. In 2019, about 3,600 were living on the streets or relying on public transit for shelter. New York City consistently ranks as one of the top cities struggling with homelessness, all thanks to its dense population and challenging housing situation.
(Based on a report by Coalition For The Homeless)
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene has a pretty high rate of homelessness, with around 432 homeless people for every 100,000 residents. The Lane County 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count found that about 2,690 adults aged 25-64 were homeless, and nearly 44% of them were dealing with chronic homelessness. On top of all that, a huge 73% of Eugene’s homeless population is living without shelter—which is one of the highest rates in the country.
San Diego, California
San Diego County hit a new high with a homeless population of 10,264 in 2022. The number of unsheltered individuals went up by 26%, with 5,171 people living without any shelter. One worrying trend is the 46% increase in homelessness among seniors—29% of the population without homes is now 55 or older.
San Francisco, California
The 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count found that 8,323 people were homeless in San Francisco. Out of those, 3,969 were staying in shelters, while 4,354 were living outdoors. Job loss and evictions are major reasons for homelessness in the city. When talking about demographics—62% of the homeless population in this city is male, 34% is female, 3% is transgender, and just 1% is gender non-conforming.
Spokane, Washington
A major reason for the rise in homelessness in Spokane is the shortage of affordable housing. The survey showed that 20% of people without shelter said the lack of cheap housing is their main problem. Another big factor is mental illness and substance abuse. About 32% of adults reported some very serious mental health issues, and 12% said drug abuse is a main cause for living on streets and abandoned buildings.
Amarillo, Texas
10.5% of the homeless population is considered “chronically” homeless in Amarillo. This means these individuals have a disability and have been homeless for over a year or have faced homelessness multiple times. Only 4 people of those experiencing homelessness were reported to be veterans. Back in 2018, Amarillo had a chronic homelessness rate of over 35%.
(Based on a report by City of Amarillo, TX)
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles County reported around 397 homeless people for every 100,000 residents. In 2022, the county boosted its shelter bed capacity by a solid 68%, adding up to 26,245 beds. Since 2020, special programs have helped over 21,000 people every year find permanent housing, but the city is still dealing with a huge homelessness crisis.
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is among the U.S. cities with the highest homeless populations. The biggest increase has been in the unsheltered homeless group, which soared by 60% to 269 people in 2023. This group includes those living in encampments or sleeping in their vehicles—showing a considerable rise in people without any kind of stable shelter.
(Based on a report by WFSU)
St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph is one of the cities with the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the U.S. In St. Joseph County, Black residents are particularly overrepresented among people without housing, making up 40% of the homeless population, while they only account for 14% of the county’s total population. White residents make up 52% of the homeless population but 79% of the county’s overall residents.
(Based on a report by National Heath Care for the Homeless Council)
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is among the U.S. cities with a high homeless population. In 2022, The Haven of Rest—a local shelter group, helped nearly 1,400 people and provided more than 35,000 nights of shelter. That same year, the median property value in this city was $138,700, and a total of 71.7% of residents owned their homes.
(Based on a report by Haven of Rest Ministries)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Southern Nevada, including Las Vegas, saw an estimated 13,972 people experience homelessness at some point in 2022. The Black community is hit especially hard, with 37% of the homeless population identifying as Black, even though they make up just 12% of the overall population. This shows a big gap and highlights the super tough challenges the Black community faces when it comes to finding stable housing.
(Based on a report by Nevada Current)
Savannah, Georgia
In Savannah, there are 259 homeless people for every 100,000 residents. In 2022, the local Continuum of Care partners helped 4,058 people who were homeless. The Chatham-Savannah Authority for the Homeless provided emergency shelter (like hotel or motel stays) for 1,577 people with some very serious medical issues. They also gave out 441 rides and bought 278 bus tickets to help folks reach stable housing with family or friends.
(Based on a report by City Mayors Society)
Topeka, Kansas
The 2024 Point in Time Homeless Count reveals a big increase in homelessness in Topeka and Shawnee County. There are 537 people and 442 households without a home this year—which is up 30% from last year. It also showed that 62% of people without housing in Topeka are men. This major rise really highlights how crucial it is to step up support and resources in the area.
Denver, Colorado
The total homeless population in the Denver metro area jumped from 5,728 in 2016 to 9,065 in 2023, which is a 58% increase. The number of unsheltered homeless people in Denver shot up by 247% from 2017 to 2023—with one in three individuals being unsheltered in 2023. The number of newly homeless residents also rose by 240% between 2017 and 2023.
(Based on a report by Common Sense Institute)
Vallejo, California
High housing costs are a major factor behind homelessness in Vallejo. As per the Solano County Health Status Report, the average monthly rent for a 2-bedroom apartment in Vallejo hit $2,195 by March 2018, a big jump from earlier years. Plus 94% of households making less than $20,000 a year spent over 30% of their income on rent, showing just how bad the housing affordability problem is.
(Based on a report by Apartments.com)
Colorado Springs, Colorado
The 2022 Point-in-Time (PIT) count found 1,406 homeless people in Colorado Springs, which is lower than in three of the past five years—even with the city’s growing population. The rate of people living outdoors dropped a lot, too, from 33.1% in 2018 to 19% in 2022. This shows that new policies and more shelter options are really making a difference.
Fresno, California
Fresno has 216 homeless people for every 100,000 residents, putting it among the U.S. cities with the highest rate of homelessness. The 2023 PIT count found that 63% of the homeless in Fresno and Madera counties are men, 36% are women, and just 1% are transgender or non-binary. Around 85% of the homeless are between 18 and 63—with 9% being kids under 19 and 6% being 64 or older.
Napa, California
Napa has been struggling with homelessness for quite a while. The city’s been working hard to tackle the issue by adding more than 100 new shelter beds and putting money into permanent supportive housing. Thanks to all these efforts—over 134 people who were previously chronically homeless have moved into stable housing with social support services.
(Based Tina. report by NAPA County California)
San Jose, California
San Jose has one of the most highest rates of homelessness per person in the U.S. In 2022, around a third of people without housing couldn’t work, while 41% were actively looking for jobs. Santa Clara County’s housing programs have helped over 9000 people find stable homes—but there are still some big challenges to tackle.
(Based on a report by San Jose Spotlight)
Reno-Sparks, Nevada
Reno-Sparks had about 254 homeless people for every 100,000 residents. Substance abuse and mental health problems are big contributors to homelessness. About 50% of people without housing in Washoe County deal with substance abuse, and 80% have mental health issues. In 2023, around 329 people in Washoe County were living without shelter—using cars or tents.
(Based on a report by City Mayors Society)
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage has a homelessness rate of 274 people for every 100,000 residents. During the chilly winter of 2022-2023, the city recorded about 24 deaths among the homeless. Even though Anchorage has spent $161 million on homelessness since 2020—there’s still a big need for more shelter beds and housing units to keep up with the growing demand.
(Based on a report by City Mayors Society)
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