High housing costs have driven a record number of Americans into homelessness. Federal data collected in January 2024 show an 18% increase in homelessness nationwide. That’s the largest increase since the U.S. government began its annual point-in-time count in 2007.
California saw a much smaller increase during the same time period. The state’s unhoused population increased 3%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). That increase was lower than 40 other states. California’s unsheltered homeless population grew just 0.45% compared to nearly 7% nationwide. California also saw the largest reduction in homelessness among veterans and youth in the nation.
The numbers suggest California's homelessness crisis has peaked. Between 2014 and 2020, homelessness in California grew 42%, compared to 9% nationwide.
In a news release, Gov. Gavin Newsom touted California's numbers relative to the rest of the country. He highlighted a number of policies and programs spearheaded by his administration, including strengthened accountability measures for local governments, the updated Behavioral Health Services Act and CARE Court initiative, and a new guidance to assist local communities with encampments. Over the past 10 years, the state has spent tens of billions of dollars to combat the crisis.
“No one in our nation should be without a place to call home. Homelessness continues to rise and increase at ever-higher numbers nationwide, but we are seeing signs of progress in California,” Newsom said. “We have turned the tide on a decades-long increase in homelessness – but we have more work to do. California’s plan is ambitious and challenging but the data is proving that it is not impossible: our strategies are making a positive difference.”
According to the federal data, three states saw more than a 25% increase in their homeless populations: New Hampshire, North Dakota, and West Virginia.
Read the full report from HUD here.