Where Homelessness Is Most, Least Prevalent (2024)

FAQs

Where Homelessness Is Most, Least Prevalent? ›

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.

At 0.003% or roughly 1 homeless person per 34,000 residents, Japan is the country with the world's lowest rate of homelessness. Moreover, with a population of around 125.7 million people, the country also has one of the lowest numbers of homeless people.

Mississippi's homelessness rate is so low largely because it is a rural state which keeps its cost of living low and many of its renters pay significant portions of their incomes to live in dilapidated housing.

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.

Today, Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, has the highest number of homeless people in the world— around 4.5 million. If we talk about homelessness in US cities (See: 25 US Cities with the Highest Homeless Population Per Capita), Eugene tops the list with 432 homeless people per 100,000 residents.

California alone accounted for nearly 30% of all homelessness in America, based on the 2023 estimates. Yet standardized by population, the states with the highest rates of homelessness were New York (5.2 people experiencing homelessness per 1,000 residents), Vermont (5.1), Oregon (4.8) and California (4.6).

Hungary criminalizes homelessness and is addressed in its constitution, which is seen as part of a broader illiberal governance in the country. Sleeping in a public space is illegal and violators can be fined or jailed.

In a Homeless Shelter

Homeless shelters offer shelter, food, and supplies for homeless men, women, and families. Many people find support to transition from homelessness to permanent housing at homeless shelters, others, however, choose to live on the streets.

What's the worst state for homeless people? ›

California continues to lead the nation in homelessness, with US data showing the state has the highest rate of unhoused people living outside in a worsening humanitarian crisis. The US has empty buildings it could use to tackle homelessness. Why is it selling them off?

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.

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.

It's illegal in Mississippi to be homeless, and those who are can be jailed.

Homeless people are less likely to be women or under the age of 18. The total homeless population increased by about 70,000 people between 2022 and 2023, and the overall rate of homelessness rose 12 percent, from 1.75 to 1.96 per 1,000 people.

Causes. In 2015, it was reported that there are more than 3 million people who are homeless in China but recently this number has fallen significantly. Housing in China is highly regulated by the Hukou system. This gives rise to a large number of migrant workers, numbering at 290.77 million in 2019.

In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. The reason: The country applies the “Housing First” concept. Those affected by homelessness receive a small apartment and counselling – without any preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected thus make their way back into a stable life.