Special Report

States With the Biggest Child Homelessness Problem

Homeless teenage boy and girl begging in street (The production scene; problem-free children play a role of beggars)
art-siberia / Shutterstock.com

An estimated 111,000 children under 18 experienced homelessness in 2023, or about 17% of the nearly 650,000 people nationwide who were unhoused, according to point-in-time estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In fact, after more than a decade of a downward trend, the number of families experiencing homelessness rose by 16% (more than 25,000 people) between 2022 and 2023.

Homelessness can have a tremendous impact on children, often affecting their overall development. For example, it has been shown that children experiencing homelessness have higher levels of emotional and behavioral problems as well as increased risk of serious health problems. They are also more likely to experience separations from their families and have lower academic performance, including repeat a grade or be expelled or drop out of school, according to National Alliance to End Homelessness.

To find the state with the biggest child homelessness problem, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2023 point-in-time estimates homelessness data from the HUD. To rank the states and the District of Columbia, we used the rate of child homelessness — that is, we divided overall homelessness under 18 by state population under 18. States and D.C. are ranked by this rate from lowest to highest. All homelessness data is from the HUD. State population data are from the Census Bureau Vintage 2023.

The 10 states with the biggest child homelessness problem are all in the Northeast and West regions and include the two non-contiguous states, Hawaii and Alaska. Moreover, the top five states — four states and the District of Columbia — are all in the Northeast. (Also see: This Is the State With the Most Homeless People: Every State Ranked.)

And which state ranks at the bottom? Well, New York has the absolute worst child homelessness problem, ranking at the bottom in both measures of child homelessness. In addition to a nation-leading rate of child homelessness, there are also nearly 30,000 children under 18 experiencing homelessness in the state — nearly double the number in California, the state with second most children under 18 experiencing homelessness (though California ranks 13th based on the rate of child homelessness).

51. Mississippi

Homeless people are helped with food relief, famine relief : volunteers giving food to poor people in desperate need : The concept of food sharing Help solve Hunger for the homeless
addkm / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 1.9 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 130 — 3rd lowest (plus 49 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 120; unsheltered: 10
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 128; individuals: 2;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 679,826
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 982; Rate: 3 per 10,000 people

50. Wyoming

theslowlane / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 2.9 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 37 — the lowest (plus 62 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 35; unsheltered: 2
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 20; individuals: 17;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 129,549
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 532; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

49. Louisiana

Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 3.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 376 — 11th lowest (plus 199 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 350; unsheltered: 26
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 363; individuals: 13;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,067,149
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,169; Rate: 7 per 10,000 people

48. West Virginia

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 3.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 125 — 2nd lowest (plus 136 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 123; unsheltered: 2
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 100; individuals: 25;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 352,212
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 1,416; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

47. Arkansas

eschipul / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 4.3 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 304 — 7th lowest (plus 177 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 235; unsheltered: 69
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 296; individuals: 8;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 705,608
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,609; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

46. South Carolina

ShutterWorx / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 4.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 520 — 17th lowest (plus 220 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 416; unsheltered: 104
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 502; individuals: 18;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,144,201
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,053; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

45. Alabama

Shackleford-Photography / iStock via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 5.0 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 560 — 18th lowest (plus 178 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 496; unsheltered: 64
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 498; individuals: 62;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,130,840
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,304; Rate: 6 per 10,000 people

44. Texas

nakrnsm / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 5.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 4,231 — 6th highest (plus 1,621 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 4,032; unsheltered: 199
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 4,080; individuals: 151;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 7,561,125
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 27,377; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

43. Kentucky

young homeless boy sleeping on the bridge, poverty, city, street
Roman Bodnarchuk / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 5.8 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 590 — 20th lowest (plus 307 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 533; unsheltered: 57
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 575; individuals: 15;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,016,895
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,766; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

42. Kansas

poor, sad little child girl sitting against the concrete wall
Olesia Bilkei / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 6.3 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 435 — 13th lowest (plus 153 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 388; unsheltered: 47
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 426; individuals: 9;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 694,337
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,636; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

41. Oklahoma

pixelpackr / CC BY 2.0 / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 6.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 626 — 22nd lowest (plus 452 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 532; unsheltered: 94
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 555; individuals: 71;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 966,607
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,648; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

40. Utah

Joey Ingelhart / iStock via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 6.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 605 — 21st lowest (plus 218 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 586; unsheltered: 19
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 578; individuals: 27;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 933,152
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,687; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

39. Tennessee

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 6.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,020 — 24th highest (plus 646 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 812; unsheltered: 208
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,001; individuals: 19;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,570,728
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 9,215; Rate: 13 per 10,000 people

38. Iowa

alan-light / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 7.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 516 — 16th lowest (plus 180 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 486; unsheltered: 30
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 496; individuals: 20;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 730,122
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,653; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

37. North Carolina

Hagercod42 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 7.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,652 — 16th highest (plus 594 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,455; unsheltered: 197
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,594; individuals: 58;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,336,623
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 9,754; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

36. North Dakota

homeless young boy sitting on the bridge
Roman Bodnarchuk / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 7.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 137 — 4th lowest (plus 84 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 131; unsheltered: 6
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 136; individuals: 1;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 184,734
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 784; Rate: 10 per 10,000 people

35. Indiana

damircudic / iStock via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 7.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,197 — 21st highest (plus 347 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,160; unsheltered: 37
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,182; individuals: 15;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,587,254
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 6,017; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

34. Connecticut

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 8.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 583 — 19th lowest (plus 236 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 580; unsheltered: 3
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 577; individuals: 6;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 722,986
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,015; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

33. Ohio

Jason Whitman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 8.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,091 — 15th highest (plus 911 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,033; unsheltered: 58
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,015; individuals: 76;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,578,254
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 11,386; Rate: 10 per 10,000 people

32. Virginia

John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 8.2 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,539 — 18th highest (plus 441 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,481; unsheltered: 58
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,534; individuals: 5;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,881,544
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 6,761; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

31. Maryland

Alone and scared
Eakachai Leesin / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 8.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,146 — 23rd highest (plus 418 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,104; unsheltered: 42
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,135; individuals: 11;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,361,916
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 5,865; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

30. Nebraska

Wanda Jewell / iStock via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 8.7 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 419 — 12th lowest (plus 193 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 416; unsheltered: 3
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 407; individuals: 12;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 480,998
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,462; Rate: 12 per 10,000 people

29. Illinois

davidwilson1949 / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,426 — 10th highest (plus 1,347 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,415; unsheltered: 11
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,394; individuals: 32;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,705,522
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 11,947; Rate: 10 per 10,000 people

28. Missouri

komunews / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.0 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,240 — 19th highest (plus 591 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,183; unsheltered: 57
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,156; individuals: 84;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,374,470
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 6,708; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

27. Georgia

editor / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.3 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,349 — 12th highest (plus 642 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,052; unsheltered: 297
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,289; individuals: 60;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,538,681
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 12,294; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

26. South Dakota

Broken shoes of a child as a symbolic image on the subject of child poverty
Ralf Geithe / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.3 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 207 — 5th lowest (plus 107 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 180; unsheltered: 27
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 187; individuals: 20;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 221,898
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 1,282; Rate: 14 per 10,000 people

25. Wisconsin

midnightcomm / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,189 — 22nd highest (plus 279 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,182; unsheltered: 7
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,163; individuals: 26;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,249,129
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,861; Rate: 8 per 10,000 people

24. Idaho

young homeless boy sleeping on the bridge, poverty, city, street
Roman Bodnarchuk / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 9.9 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 461 — 15th lowest (plus 133 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 265; unsheltered: 196
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 456; individuals: 5;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 467,342
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,298; Rate: 12 per 10,000 people

23. Arizona

Gregory Clifford / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 10.0 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,585 — 17th highest (plus 996 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,402; unsheltered: 183
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,539; individuals: 46;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,583,034
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 14,237; Rate: 19 per 10,000 people

22. Nevada

Max Whittaker / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 10.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 693 — 25th lowest (plus 454 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 557; unsheltered: 136
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 665; individuals: 28;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 685,956
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 8,666; Rate: 27 per 10,000 people

21. Pennsylvania

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 10.2 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,669 — 7th highest (plus 957 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,629; unsheltered: 40
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,637; individuals: 32;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,629,005
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 12,556; Rate: 10 per 10,000 people

20. Michigan

Bill Pugliano / Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 10.8 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,280 — 14th highest (plus 721 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,166; unsheltered: 114
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,249; individuals: 31;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,111,911
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 8,997; Rate: 9 per 10,000 people

19. Florida

felixmizioznikov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 10.9 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 4,797 — 4th highest (plus 1,518 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 3,937; unsheltered: 860
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 4,647; individuals: 150;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 4,380,843
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 30,756; Rate: 14 per 10,000 people

18. New Jersey

Tired , sad, stressed single father parent taking care of child standing in a dark city street. Family hardship, problems
KieferPix / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 12.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,500 — 9th highest (plus 737 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,483; unsheltered: 17
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,460; individuals: 40;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 2,010,290
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 10,264; Rate: 11 per 10,000 people

17. Montana

Poor homeless beggar boy praying for a shelter concept - kneeling on cardboard
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 12.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 296 — 6th lowest (plus 217 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 279; unsheltered: 17
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 295; individuals: 1;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 235,651
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,178; Rate: 19 per 10,000 people

16. New Mexico

Spencer Platt / Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 15.0 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 678 — 24th lowest (plus 283 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 617; unsheltered: 61
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 620; individuals: 58;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 451,347
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,842; Rate: 18 per 10,000 people

15. Delaware

Hands-on food of the hungry is the hope of poverty : concept of homelessness
addkm / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 15.8 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 335 — 8th lowest (plus 66 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 328; unsheltered: 7
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 332; individuals: 3;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 211,938
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 1,245; Rate: 12 per 10,000 people

14. New Hampshire

manchesterlibrary / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 17.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 443 — 14th lowest (plus 175 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 439; unsheltered: 4
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 441; individuals: 2;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 252,050
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,441; Rate: 17 per 10,000 people

13. California

David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 18.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 15,499 — 2nd highest (plus 11,840 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 11,993; unsheltered: 3,506
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 14,833; individuals: 666;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 8,445,669
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 181,399; Rate: 47 per 10,000 people

12. Minnesota

Stephen Maturen / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 18.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,390 — 11th highest (plus 951 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,289; unsheltered: 101
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,311; individuals: 79;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,300,934
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 8,393; Rate: 15 per 10,000 people

11. Rhode Island

head in the tunnel waiting hands of underprivileged children alone
hikrcn / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 18.4 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 376 — 11th lowest (plus 81 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 372; unsheltered: 4
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 375; individuals: 1;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 203,838
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 1,810; Rate: 17 per 10,000 people

10. Colorado

Joe Raedle / Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 18.9 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,291 — 13th highest (plus 771 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 2,083; unsheltered: 208
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,190; individuals: 101;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,214,684
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 14,439; Rate: 25 per 10,000 people

9. Alaska

alaska-landmine / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 20.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 361 — 9th lowest (plus 227 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 361; unsheltered: 0
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 334; individuals: 27;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 175,507
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 2,614; Rate: 36 per 10,000 people

8. Washington

hendry / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 26.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 4,386 — 5th highest (plus 1,897 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 3,225; unsheltered: 1,161
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 3,846; individuals: 540;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,648,070
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 28,036; Rate: 36 per 10,000 people

7. Oregon

John Gress / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 31.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 2,617 — 8th highest (plus 1,255 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 959; unsheltered: 1,658
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 2,103; individuals: 514;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 831,830
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 20,142; Rate: 48 per 10,000 people

6. Hawaii

nojustice / iStock via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 31.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 924 — 25th highest (plus 428 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 710; unsheltered: 214
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 911; individuals: 13;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 293,613
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 6,223; Rate: 43 per 10,000 people

5. Maine

Little asian child sitting and waiting someone. Depressed asian girl. Young asian girl sad
Srijaroen / Shutterstock.com
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 49.6 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 1,236 — 20th highest (plus 314 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 1,233; unsheltered: 3
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 1,212; individuals: 24;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 249,052
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,258; Rate: 31 per 10,000 people

4. Massachusetts

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 55.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 7,400 — 3rd highest (plus 1,348 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 7,397; unsheltered: 3
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 7,367; individuals: 33;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 1,341,801
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 19,141; Rate: 27 per 10,000 people

3. District of Columbia

Askolds / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 56.5 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 715 — 26th highest (plus 521 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 712; unsheltered: 3
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 704; individuals: 11;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 126,592
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 4,922; Rate: 72 per 10,000 people

2. Vermont

perspective / Flickr
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 57.1 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 654 — 23rd lowest (plus 247 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 645; unsheltered: 9
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 648; individuals: 6;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 114,636
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 3,295; Rate: 51 per 10,000 people

1. New York

NYC Toughens Policy Towards Homeless Families
2007 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Rate of child (under 18) homelessness, 2023: 74.2 per 10,000 children
  • Total child homelessness, 2023: 29,377 — the highest (plus 10,327 between 18 to 24)
  • Child homelessness condition: sheltered: 29,344; unsheltered: 33
  • Homeless children individuals or in families: in families: 29,221; individuals: 156;
  • Total state population under 18, 2023: 3,959,908
  • Overall state homelessness, 2023: Total: 103,200; Rate: 53 per 10,000 people

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