U.S. Homelessness Falls 6% in 2025, Cutting Count by 47,000
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Nov 7
U.S. Homelessness Falls 6% in 2025, Cutting Count by 47,000
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Nov 7
Summary
More than 47,000 fewer people were counted as homeless in the United States in 2025, the biggest annual drop since the federal tally began nearly 20 years ago.
HUD said homelessness fell more than 6% for a second straight yearly decline, though the total still remains well above prepandemic levels.
The decline likely reflects the easing of a 2022 shelter crunch after asylum seekers were bused to Northern cities and overwhelmed local systems; many have since left.
HUD rushed out the result before its usual full report after two nonprofit groups compiled local January count data and prepared their own analyses during a fight over Trump administration policy changes.
If the historic drop in homelessness stems mostly from migrating asylum seekers moving on, is the chronic housing crisis actually worsening?
Why are cities like Nashville seeing rising homelessness while the national average celebrates its steepest historic decline?
With many unhoused individuals possessing recent work histories, could targeted job training solve the crisis better than simply building more shelters?