Homelessness in America: 2025 Statistics and Trends

If you need shelter tonight, you don't have to read first — search shelters near you or call 211 or use your local 211 service.

HUD estimated that 745,652 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2025. That was about 25,800 fewer people than in 2024, a decrease of roughly 3 percent. The 2025 count was the first national year-over-year decline since 2016.

These figures come from HUD's 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1. They are a one-night estimate—not a count of everyone who experienced homelessness during the entire year.

Key 2025 findings

According to HUD's 2025 Point-in-Time estimates:

• 745,652 people were counted as experiencing homelessness.
• The national total declined by approximately 3.4 percent from 2024.
• Homelessness among people in families with children declined by about 11 percent.
• Veteran homelessness fell to approximately 32,500 people, the lowest level recorded in the federal series.
• Chronic homelessness remained at a historically high level.
• Adults age 55 and older made up about one-fifth of people counted.

The national decline is important, but it does not mean every community improved. State and local trends can differ significantly from the national picture.

Sheltered and unsheltered homelessness

HUD separates the Point-in-Time estimate into two broad groups:

Sheltered homelessness includes people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on the night of the count.

Unsheltered homelessness includes people staying in places not designed for regular sleeping, such as streets, vehicles, abandoned buildings, or other locations not meant for human habitation.

These categories describe where someone was staying during the count. They do not capture every form of housing instability or every person staying temporarily with friends or relatives.

Family homelessness declined

The 2025 report found a substantial decrease in homelessness among families with children. HUD attributed much of the overall national decline to this change.

Family homelessness is still a serious concern. Families may face limited shelter options, separation concerns, transportation barriers, school disruption, and difficulty finding units they can afford after leaving shelter.

Veteran homelessness reached a record low

Approximately 32,495 veterans were counted as experiencing homelessness in 2025, the lowest national estimate on record.

Federal and local responses for veterans include the HUD-VA Supportive Housing program, Supportive Services for Veteran Families, VA outreach, and the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans. The national improvement does not guarantee that a particular veteran will immediately receive shelter or housing.

Chronic homelessness remained high

HUD generally uses the term chronic homelessness for a person with a qualifying disability who has experienced homelessness for a long period or repeatedly over several years and is staying in an emergency shelter, Safe Haven, or place not meant for habitation.

The chronic-homelessness estimate remained at a record level in 2025. This group often needs both permanent housing and ongoing supportive services.

Older adults are a growing concern

Adults age 55 and older represented approximately 20 percent of people counted in 2025. Older adults may face fixed incomes, rising rents, health conditions, mobility limitations, and shelters that are not equipped to help with daily living needs.

How the Point-in-Time count works

Communities conduct the PIT count during a single night in January. Sheltered counts generally rely on program and administrative data. Unsheltered counts may use outreach teams, surveys, observation, sampling, and local estimation methods.

The Housing Inventory Count, conducted at the same time, estimates beds and units dedicated to people experiencing homelessness.

Important limitations

The PIT count is useful for comparing broad trends, but it has limitations:

• It is a snapshot of one night.
• Unsheltered homelessness is difficult to count.
• Weather and local count methods can affect results.
• People who are hidden from view may be missed.
• Some people staying temporarily with others may meet other federal definitions but are not included in the main HUD PIT total.
• The count does not measure everyone who cycles through homelessness during a year.

For these reasons, the number should be described as an estimate rather than a complete census.

Understanding the numbers

National statistics describe scale and trends. They do not tell a person which shelter has space tonight. For immediate local help, search for nearby shelters and call the provider or 211 before traveling.

Sources

• HUD: 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1
• HUD User: AHAR Data and Reports
• HUD Exchange: Definition of Chronic Homelessness

*Statistics are based on HUD's January 2025 Point-in-Time estimate and were reviewed in June 2026.*