U.S. homelessness drops more than 6% in 2025, second year of decline
2025 marks second consecutive year of declining U.S. homelessness, with nearly 50,000 fewer people without housing
At a glance
- The U.S. homeless population dropped more than 6% in 2025, marking the second year of decline.
- This represents roughly 49,000 fewer people without housing compared to the previous year.
- Both HUD and an independent analysis credit reduced homelessness to a combination of immigration policy changes, expanded housing programs, and crackdowns on encampments.
The U.S. homeless population dropped more than 6% in 2025, the second consecutive year of decline after 2024. This represents roughly 49,000 fewer people without housing, according to annual counts conducted across communities nationwide. The decline is the largest in more than a decade and marks a significant shift from the record-high levels seen in previous years.
HUD Secretary Scott Turner attributed the drop to President Trump's immigration policy changes, which he said drove a historic decrease in homelessness. However, an independent analysis commissioned by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found a similar decline but credited different factors. CEO Ann Oliva noted that programs funding Congress were working and that more people were getting housed.
Several other factors contributed to the improvement. Programs that provide housing without preconditions, especially for veterans, were a major part of the latest declines. Additionally, a crackdown on homeless encampments after a 2024 Supreme Court ruling allowed cities to ban sleeping and camping in public places. HUD also credited softening rental markets in some areas, which helped stem the flow of newly unhoused people. Cities like New York, Chicago, Boston and Denver saw surges in asylum seekers during the Biden administration, but the most recent drop was driven by other factors. Weather disasters in western North Carolina and Hawaii also contributed to overall improvement as displaced residents received assistance.
Despite the progress, nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. still live in shelters or on the streets, significantly more than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Homelessness among U.S. veterans fell more than 7% last year and has declined nearly 60% since 2010. However, there was a small uptick in people who have been homeless for extended periods, and more permanent housing remains needed for chronically homeless individuals.
Questions and answers
- What was the percentage drop in homelessness in 2025?
- Homelessness in the U.S. dropped more than 6% in 2025.
- How many fewer people without housing does this represent?
- It amounts to roughly 49,000 fewer people without housing.
