Best State to Be Homeless 2024 (2024)

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District of Columbia

65.80

California

43.70

Vermont

43.10

Oregon

42.30

Hawaii

41.40

New York

37.70

Washington

32.60

Maine

32.10

Alaska

31.70

Nevada

24.20

Delaware

23.60

Massachusetts

22.20

Arizona

18.60

Best State to Be Homeless 2024

Texas

The cities of Houston and Austin are amongst some of the best cities to be homeless, as they offer the most support to those who are down on their luck. In fact, homelessness has dropped drastically in the last ten years in the city of Houston due to their housing first policy. The policy has aided in moving large swarms of the homeless from their respective shelters into a more permanent housing situation. The policy is touted across the country as being one of the most effective policies when looking to combat homelessness.

How does it work? The issue of homelessness is seldom analyzed and attacked at the root of the problem. When someone has a permanent housing situation where their privacy can be respected, the person themselves seems to have an air that is more responsible and sensible. Giving the homeless a permanent dwelling seems to inspire hope for the future. Furthermore, permanent locations are a stepping stone to finding a steady job, as most employers would not look favorably on those who do not have a housing situation.

Utah

Salt Lake City, since 2015, has announced that they have almost eliminated homelessness in the city and that there are very few people without a permanent housing situation. While they claim this to be true, there has been a spike in homelessness over recent years. This is not to discredit the policies and enforcement being enacted in both the city and the state, as it is clear that the authorities have taken matters into their own hands and have dealt with the problem particularly well.

For more than a decade, the homelessness initiative in the city prioritized giving a dwelling to the homeless and giving them a private room that they can call their own. While most opt for very run-down areas in the poorest parts of the area, the city has built various spaces that are attractive and appealing, which are conducive to building up the confidence of homeless people. The quality of the housing is aesthetically pleasing and very affordable for those who are on the housing program.

The assistance offered is to integrate the members back into society, giving them the skills and confidence necessary to enter the workforce and work on physical and mental health issues, as well as inspire communication that has been lost by loved ones if at all possible.

California

At first glance, this may seem confusing. California has many sprawling urban centers which have the largest population in the country if New York City is not taken into consideration. The policies in various cities and jurisdictions are quite average, as they have not been completely successful in curbing the problem. Nevertheless, it is one of the best states to be homeless in, particular due to the climate. The Californian weather is temperate, meaning that it is never too cold in the winter, and not too cold in the summer. This improves the quality of life, even for those who cannot secure a permanent solution.

Best State to Be Homeless 2024

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Download Table Data

State	Homeless Per 10k Residents	Total Homeless	Individuals	Chronically Homeless Individuals	People In Families with Children	Unaccompanied Homeless Youth	Veterans
District of Columbia	65.80	4,410	3,406	1,257	1,004	360	208
California	43.70	171,521	145,983	57,760	25,538	9,590	10,395
Vermont	43.10	2,780	1,923	398	857	145	100
Oregon	42.30	17,959	14,586	6,447	3,373	1,066	1,460
Hawaii	41.40	5,967	4,479	1,495	1,488	184	306
New York	37.70	74,178	39,373	5,994	34,805	2,762	990
Washington	32.60	25,211	18,725	7,376	6,486	1,802	1,569
Maine	32.10	4,411	2,457	500	1,954	209	243
Alaska	31.70	2,320	1,760	576	560	186	134
Nevada	24.20	7,618	6,820	2,752	798	376	752
Delaware	23.60	2,369	1,065	196	1,304	65	93
Massachusetts	22.20	15,507	5,531	1,558	9,976	365	534
Arizona	18.60	13,553	10,707	2,476	2,846	917	857
Colorado	17.90	10,397	8,246	3,466	2,151	453	738
Louisiana	15.90	7,373	3,059	397	4,314	191	322
South Dakota	15.50	1,389	971	131	418	82	40
Tennessee	15.10	10,567	8,207	1,653	2,360	518	549
Montana	14.40	1,585	1,162	343	423	104	172
Rhode Island	14.40	1,577	1,071	421	506	61	113
Minnesota	13.90	7,917	4,957	1,773	2,960	604	290
New Mexico	12.10	2,560	1,786	714	774	140	91
Florida	11.90	25,959	19,519	4,233	6,440	1,011	2,279
New Hampshire	11.60	1,605	1,064	341	541	88	127
Nebraska	11.40	2,246	1,672	522	574	121	145
Wyoming	11.20	648	458	83	190	64	68
Utah	10.70	3,557	2,479	722	1,078	189	155
Idaho	10.50	1,998	1,233	238	765	84	149
Georgia	9.90	10,689	7,905	1,354	2,784	479	664
Pennsylvania	9.80	12,691	7,861	1,759	4,830	579	778
Missouri	9.70	5,992	4,312	1,145	1,680	466	476
New Jersey	9.40	8,752	5,807	1,521	2,945	438	479
Oklahoma	9.40	3,754	2,966	1,247	788	374	273
Ohio	9.00	10,654	7,440	1,023	3,214	703	633
North Carolina	8.90	9,382	6,652	1,697	2,730	415	687
Kentucky	8.80	3,984	2,991	670	993	223	328
Maryland	8.70	5,349	3,591	899	1,758	232	303
Texas	8.30	24,432	18,579	4,812	5,853	1,226	1,711
Kansas	8.20	2,397	1,754	465	643	126	218
Michigan	8.20	8,206	4,904	1,004	3,302	451	498
Arkansas	8.10	2,459	2,131	376	328	251	92
Connecticut	8.10	2,930	2,007	117	923	113	149
Wisconsin	8.10	4,775	2,886	510	1,889	228	341
Indiana	8.00	5,449	3,926	470	1,523	267	482
North Dakota	7.90	610	439	170	171	36	37
West Virginia	7.70	1,375	1,238	204	137	135	122
Iowa	7.60	2,419	1,666	393	753	124	141
Virginia	7.60	6,529	4,234	1,142	2,295	270	392
Alabama	7.40	3,752	2,482	539	1,270	169	308
Illinois	7.30	9,212	6,244	1,341	2,968	628	524
South Carolina	7.00	3,608	2,742	698	866	211	359
Mississippi	4.10	1,196	1,091	105	105	126	139

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Best State to Be Homeless 2024

Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress - US Dept of Housing and Urban Development

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FAQs

Best State to Be Homeless 2024? ›

A good place to start is your County Department of Human or Social Services, a nearby church, social service non-profit, the library, or a food pantry.

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Where is the best place to go if you are homeless? ›

A good place to start is your County Department of Human or Social Services, a nearby church, social service non-profit, the library, or a food pantry.

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Which US state has lowest homelessness? ›

The national rate of Americans experiencing homelessness in 2023 was approximately 19.4 people per 10,000. Mississippi had the lowest rate of homelessness, at 3.3 people per 10,000, while in other states — namely New York and Vermont — the rate jumps to more than 50 per 10,000.

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Which state has the fastest growing homeless population? ›

By state

Largest Overall Homeless Populations		Largest Percent Increase in Homeless Populations, 2022-2023
California	181,399	52%
New York	103,200	50%
Florida	30,756	39%
Washington	28,036	39%

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Which US city has worst homeless problem? ›

Which cities had the largest homeless populations in 2023? Out of the CoCs containing the 50 largest cities in the US, the largest homeless populations were in the CoCs containing New York (88,025) and Los Angeles (71,320), which were also the largest cities by total population.

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What is the best state to move to if you are homeless? ›

Colorado ranked the top state in the nation for housing assistance from 2018 to 2019. Connecticut saw a 23.6% decline in homelessness from 2018 to 2019.

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What state has the best benefits for homeless people? ›

Best State to Be Homeless 2024

Texas. The cities of Houston and Austin are among some of the best cities to be homeless, as they offer the most support to those who are down on their luck. ...
Utah. ...
California.

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Which state has the most homeless in 2024? ›

The state of California currently has the highest homeless population, with about 161,548 homeless people.

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What happens to homeless people when they get old? ›

People who do survive on the streets into their old age are at risk of becoming easy prey for criminals because of their health and mobility limitations. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, there is a greater likelihood that senior citizens living on the street will be robbed, or assaulted.

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Why do older people become homeless? ›

Older adults of color are at significantly higher risk for homelessness. Financial factors surpass mental health problems and substance abuse in significance as risk factors for homelessness. Homelessness is often associated with elder abuse, most notably: financial abuse, predatory lending, and illegal evictions.

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Where are there no homeless in the US? ›

Wyoming, North Dakota and Mississippi have the smallest homeless populations. At 532, 784 and 982, these are the only three states where the count of people experiencing homelessness is below 1,000. Relative to an area's population, homelessness is most prevalent in the District of Columbia, New York and Vermont.

How does Japan deal with homelessness? ›

In Japan, it is almost illegal to beg or sleep on the streets. Cities such as Tokyo are known for their anti-homeless or hostile architecture. Many parks in Tokyo are being locked at night to keep homeless people from sleeping there or hiring security guards to take them out.