This Is the State With the Most Homeless People: Every State Ranked

Special Report

Published: February 13, 2024 12:28 pm

Last Updated: February 13, 2024 12:29 pm

An estimated 653,104 people experienced homelessness on a single night in 2023 — a 12% increase (or about 70,650 more people) from 2022 and the highest since reporting began in 2007, according to point-in-time estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The rise in homelessness is largely due to a sharp increase in the number of people who became homeless for the first time, and is likely due to the expiration of pandemic-era measures, “the worsening affordable housing crisis, and recent changes in the rental housing market,” the HUD explains. Though broken during the pandemic, the increase continues the pre-pandemic trend from 2016 to 2020. Among the unhoused, 60% were staying in sheltered locations, while 40% were experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

To find the state with the most homeless people, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed homelessness data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. To rank the states and the District of Columbia, we used point-in-time estimates of homelessness by state in 2023 divided by state population totals to get to the rate of homelessness per 10,000 people. States and D.C. are ranked by this rate from lowest to highest. All homelessness data is from the HUD. State population totals are from the Census Bureau Vintage 2023.

The rate of homelessness per 10,000 people among U.S. states ranges from 3.3 to 72.5. Nationwide, nearly 20 people experienced homelessness for every 10,000 Americans. (Also see: American Cities Hit Hardest By Extreme Poverty.)

The 10 places with the highest homelessness rates are all either in the Northeast or West regions. Among the top 10 are also the two noncontiguous states, Hawaii and Alaska. At the other end, the 10 states with the lowest rate of people who experience homelessness are mostly Southern, though three are in the Midwest and one in the Northeast. (And this is the county with the highest poverty rate in every state.)

51. Mississippi

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 3.3 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 982 — 3rd lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 538; Unsheltered: 444
Total state population, 2023: 2,939,690

50. Alabama

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 6.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,304 — 19th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,848; Unsheltered: 1,456
Total state population, 2023: 5,108,468

49. Louisiana

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 6.9 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,169 — 17th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,770; Unsheltered: 1,399
Total state population, 2023: 4,573,749

48. South Carolina

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 7.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,053 — 22nd lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,726; Unsheltered: 1,327
Total state population, 2023: 5,373,555

47. Virginia

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 7.8 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 6,761 — 20th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 5,427; Unsheltered: 1,334
Total state population, 2023: 8,715,698

46. West Virginia

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 1,416 — 6th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 960; Unsheltered: 456
Total state population, 2023: 1,770,071

45. Wisconsin

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.2 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,861 — 26th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,403; Unsheltered: 458
Total state population, 2023: 5,910,955

44. Iowa

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.3 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,653 — 15th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,197; Unsheltered: 456
Total state population, 2023: 3,207,004

43. Connecticut

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.3 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,015 — 16th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,514; Unsheltered: 501
Total state population, 2023: 3,617,176

42. Arkansas

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,609 — 12th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,287; Unsheltered: 1,322
Total state population, 2023: 3,067,732

41. Indiana

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 8.8 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 6,017 — 23rd highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,856; Unsheltered: 1,161
Total state population, 2023: 6,862,199

40. Michigan

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 8,997 — 17th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 7,662; Unsheltered: 1,335
Total state population, 2023: 10,037,261

39. Kansas

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,636 — 14th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,881; Unsheltered: 755
Total state population, 2023: 2,940,546

38. Texas

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 27,377 — 5th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 15,691; Unsheltered: 11,686
Total state population, 2023: 30,503,301

37. North Carolina

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 9,754 — 15th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,311; Unsheltered: 3,443
Total state population, 2023: 10,835,491

36. Wyoming

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.1 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 532 — the lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 474; Unsheltered: 58
Total state population, 2023: 584,057

35. Maryland

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 5,865 — 24th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,913; Unsheltered: 952
Total state population, 2023: 6,180,253

34. Illinois

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 11,947 — 12th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 10,328; Unsheltered: 1,619
Total state population, 2023: 12,549,689

33. Ohio

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.7 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 11,386 — 13th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 8,983; Unsheltered: 2,403
Total state population, 2023: 11,785,935

32. Pennsylvania

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 9.7 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 12,556 — 10th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 10,792; Unsheltered: 1,764
Total state population, 2023: 12,961,683

31. North Dakota

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 784 — 2nd lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 608; Unsheltered: 176
Total state population, 2023: 783,926

30. Kentucky

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,766 — 25th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,296; Unsheltered: 1,470
Total state population, 2023: 4,526,154

29. Utah

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.8 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,687 — 20th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,707; Unsheltered: 980
Total state population, 2023: 3,417,734

28. Missouri

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 10.8 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 6,708 — 21st highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,695; Unsheltered: 2,013
Total state population, 2023: 6,196,156

27. New Jersey

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.0 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 10,264 — 14th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 8,856; Unsheltered: 1,408
Total state population, 2023: 9,290,841

26. Georgia

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.1 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 12,294 — 11th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,466; Unsheltered: 5,828
Total state population, 2023: 11,029,227

25. Oklahoma

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,648 — 24th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,743; Unsheltered: 1,905
Total state population, 2023: 4,053,824

24. Idaho

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 11.7 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,298 — 9th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,240; Unsheltered: 1,058
Total state population, 2023: 1,964,726

23. Delaware

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.1 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 1,245 — 4th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,047; Unsheltered: 198
Total state population, 2023: 1,031,890

22. Nebraska

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.4 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,462 — 11th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,150; Unsheltered: 312Total state population, 2023: 1,978,379

21. Tennessee

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 12.9 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 9,215 — 16th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,694; Unsheltered: 4,521
Total state population, 2023: 7,126,489

20. Florida

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 13.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 30,756 — 3rd highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 15,274; Unsheltered: 15,482
Total state population, 2023: 22,610,726

19. South Dakota

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 13.9 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 1,282 — 5th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 972; Unsheltered: 310
Total state population, 2023: 919,318

18. Minnesota

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 14.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 8,393 — 19th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,717; Unsheltered: 1,676
Total state population, 2023: 5,737,915

17. Rhode Island

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 16.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 1,810 — 7th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,476; Unsheltered: 334
Total state population, 2023: 1,095,962

16. New Hampshire

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 17.4 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,441 — 10th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,103; Unsheltered: 338
Total state population, 2023: 1,402,054

15. New Mexico

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 18.2 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,842 — 21st lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,242; Unsheltered: 1,600
Total state population, 2023: 2,114,371

14. Arizona

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 19.2 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 14,237 — 9th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 6,622; Unsheltered: 7,615
Total state population, 2023: 7,431,344

13. Montana

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 19.2 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,178 — 8th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 1,682; Unsheltered: 496
Total state population, 2023: 1,132,812

12. Colorado

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 24.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 14,439 — 8th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 9,694; Unsheltered: 4,745
Total state population, 2023: 5,877,610

11. Nevada

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 27.1 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 8,666 — 18th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,111; Unsheltered: 4,555
Total state population, 2023: 3,194,176

10. Massachusetts

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 27.3 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 19,141 — 7th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 17,779; Unsheltered: 1,362
Total state population, 2023: 7,001,399

9. Maine

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 30.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,258 — 23rd lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,959; Unsheltered: 299
Total state population, 2023: 1,395,722

8. Alaska

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 35.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 2,614 — 13th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,146; Unsheltered: 468
Total state population, 2023: 733,406

7. Washington

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 35.9 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 28,036 — 4th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 14,083; Unsheltered: 13,953
Total state population, 2023: 7,812,880

6. Hawaii

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 43.4 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 6,223 — 22nd highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 2,316; Unsheltered: 3,907
Total state population, 2023: 1,435,138

5. California

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 46.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 181,399 — the highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 57,976; Unsheltered: 123,423
Total state population, 2023: 38,965,193

4. Oregon

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 47.6 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 20,142 — 6th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 7,138; Unsheltered: 13,004
Total state population, 2023: 4,233,358

3. Vermont

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 50.9 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 3,295 — 18th lowest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 3,158; Unsheltered: 137
Total state population, 2023: 647,464

2. New York

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 52.7 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 103,200 — 2nd highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 98,193; Unsheltered: 5,007
Total state population, 2023: 19,571,216

1. District of Columbia

Rate of homelessness, 2023: 72.5 per 10,000 people
Total homelessness, 2023: 4,922 — 25th highest
Homelessness condition: Sheltered: 4,097; Unsheltered: 825
Total state population, 2023: 678,972

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Read more: Special Report, DC homelessness, homeless persons, homelessness, hud, new york homelessness, Poverty, rate of homelessness, sheltered homelessness, unhoused, unsheltered homelessness, vermont homelessness, Social Characteristics

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