New York City has the largest homeless population among major U.S. urban service areas in 2026. Its Continuum of Care counted 125,683 people experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles City and County rank second with 67,777 people. Seattle and King County place third with 16,936. Denver, San Jose, Portland, San Diego and Phoenix also appear near the top of the ranking.
The figures come from the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in May 2026. The report covers Point-in-Time counts conducted in January 2025.
HUD recorded 745,652 people experiencing homelessness across the United States. Of that total, 479,332 were in shelters or transitional programs. Another 266,320 were living in streets, vehicles, abandoned buildings and other places not intended for habitation.
The local figures cover Continuums of Care, commonly called CoCs. A CoC can represent a single city, a city and county, several counties or a larger metropolitan service region. The ranking therefore compares urban homelessness systems rather than identical municipal boundaries.
Key Findings
- New York City ranks first with 125,683 people experiencing homelessness.
- Los Angeles City and County rank second with 67,777.
- New York and Los Angeles contain nearly 26% of the national homeless population.
- Seattle and King County rank third with 16,936.
- Six urban CoCs report totals above 10,000.
- New York shelters 96.3% of the people included in its count.
- About 65.5% of the Los Angeles population is unsheltered.
- California accounts for 10 of the 25 areas in the ranking.
- Boston has one of the highest sheltered shares at 97.6%.
- Long Beach has the highest unsheltered share among major-city CoCs at 71.4%.
- The national homeless population declined by about 3% in one year.
- Chronic homelessness increased despite the lower national total.
Cities and Urban Areas With the Largest Homeless Populations
The ranking includes major-city, urban and suburban CoCs. The city named in each row identifies the main population center. The geographic coverage column shows the broader area included in the count.
| Rank | Main City | Continuum of Care Area | State | Homeless Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City | New York City | New York | 125,683 |
| 2 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles City and County | California | 67,777 |
| 3 | Seattle | Seattle and King County | Washington | 16,936 |
| 4 | Denver | Metropolitan Denver | Colorado | 10,774 |
| 5 | San Jose | San Jose and Santa Clara City and County | California | 10,711 |
| 6 | Portland | Portland, Gresham and Multnomah County | Oregon | 10,526 |
| 7 | San Diego | San Diego City and County | California | 9,905 |
| 8 | Phoenix | Phoenix, Mesa and Maricopa County | Arizona | 9,734 |
| 9 | Oakland | Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda County | California | 9,262 |
| 10 | San Francisco | San Francisco | California | 8,671 |
| 11 | Las Vegas | Las Vegas and Clark County | Nevada | 7,741 |
| 12 | Santa Ana and Anaheim | Orange County | California | 7,710 |
| 13 | Chicago | Chicago | Illinois | 7,452 |
| 14 | Sacramento | Sacramento City and County | California | 6,995 |
| 15 | Boston | Boston | Massachusetts | 5,540 |
| 16 | Philadelphia | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | 5,516 |
| 17 | Washington | District of Columbia | District of Columbia | 5,138 |
| 18 | Honolulu | Honolulu City and County | Hawaii | 4,920 |
| 19 | Fresno | Fresno City and County and Madera County | California | 4,905 |
| 20 | Stockton | Stockton and San Joaquin County | California | 4,760 |
| 21 | Long Island | Nassau and Suffolk Counties | New York | 4,540 |
| 22 | San Bernardino | San Bernardino City and County | California | 4,320 |
| 23 | Riverside | Riverside City and County | California | 4,229 |
| 24 | Miami | Miami-Dade County | Florida | 3,728 |
| 25 | Long Beach | Long Beach | California | 3,595 |
Counts represent CoC service areas. They should not be read as municipal city-limit populations unless the CoC follows the same boundaries as the city.
New York and Los Angeles Stand Far Above Every Other Area
New York and Los Angeles together account for 193,460 people. The combined figure equals almost 26% of everyone included in the national count.
Seattle ranks third, but its total is less than one-quarter of the Los Angeles figure. The gap shows how heavily the national homeless population is concentrated in the two largest urban systems.
The Next Four Areas Are Much Closer Together
Seattle stands alone in third place. Denver, San Jose and Portland form a second group. Each reports between 10,500 and 10,800 people.
Small differences between those three totals should be treated cautiously. A change in shelter capacity, survey coverage or counting methodology can move an area several places in the ranking.
1. New York City, New York
New York City reports 125,683 people experiencing homelessness. Its total is almost twice the Los Angeles figure and more than seven times the count for Seattle and King County.
Most of the Population Is Sheltered
About 96.3% of the people in New York’s count were staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing or safe-haven programs. A smaller group was found in streets, subway stations and other unsheltered locations.
New York operates the largest municipal shelter system in the country. The city also has legal duties concerning access to temporary shelter. Those factors place people inside the official homeless system who might remain unsheltered in another city.
Families Account for a Major Part of the Count
Family homelessness contributes heavily to the New York total. Rent increases, eviction, domestic violence, overcrowding and income loss can force parents and children into temporary accommodation.
Our examination of the New York City population provides additional context. Population size is part of the explanation, but high rent and shelter policy strongly affect the result.
2. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles City and County report 67,777 people experiencing homelessness. The count is regional and covers most of Los Angeles County.
Unsheltered Homelessness Defines the Crisis
About 65.5% of the Los Angeles total was unsheltered. People living in tents, vehicles, sidewalks, parks and structures not designed as homes form the majority.
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority finalized the CoC total at 67,777 after its sheltered figure was reviewed.
The County Total Excludes Several Separate Systems
Long Beach, Pasadena and Glendale operate separate CoCs. Their populations are not part of the 67,777 shown for Los Angeles.
Our report on the Los Angeles population explains the scale of the city and county. Geographic coverage must be checked before its homeless count is compared with a city-only system.
3. Seattle, Washington
Seattle and King County report 16,936 people experiencing homelessness. It is the largest urban CoC total outside New York and California.
The Figure Covers a Large Regional Housing Market
The CoC includes Seattle and surrounding King County communities. People frequently cross municipal boundaries to find shelter, work, healthcare and outreach services.
High rents affect the entire region. The problem is not limited to downtown Seattle or its most visible encampments.
Regional Movement Complicates Local Comparisons
A person may lose housing in a suburban community and later receive services in Seattle. Countywide counts capture part of that movement but appear larger than counts limited to a central city.
More demographic context is available in our analysis of the Seattle population.
4. Denver, Colorado
Metropolitan Denver counts 10,774 people experiencing homelessness. The total places the region slightly ahead of San Jose and Portland.
Shelter Expansion Can Raise the Recorded Total
Denver’s CoC includes the central city and several surrounding counties. Adults and families using shelters contribute heavily to the regional number.
A rise in sheltered homelessness does not always mean more people have lost housing. A new shelter can bring previously uncounted residents into a documented program. The full total may rise even as fewer people sleep outside.
Visible Encampments Do Not Show the Entire Population
Street conditions receive most public attention. Families in temporary accommodation and adults in congregate shelters remain part of the same count.
5. San Jose, California
San Jose and Santa Clara County report 10,711 people experiencing homelessness. About 69.8% were unsheltered.
Housing Costs Remain a Central Pressure
Santa Clara County contains many of the highest-paying technology companies in the country. It also has one of the most expensive housing markets.
Regional wealth does not protect lower-paid workers from rent pressure. Service employees, care workers, retail staff and people on fixed incomes can face severe housing instability.
A High Income Area Can Still Have Large Encampments
Median income does not describe every household. The gap between high local rents and low wages matters more for residents near the bottom of the income distribution.
6. Portland, Oregon
Portland, Gresham and Multnomah County report 10,526 people experiencing homelessness.
The Problem Extends Outside Central Portland
The CoC includes shelters, vehicles and encampments across Multnomah County. Portland attracts the most attention, but nearby communities are part of the same regional system.
Encampment removal can change where people sleep without changing their housing status. A cleaner block does not prove that former residents obtained permanent homes.
Sheltered and Unsheltered Counts Need Separate Attention
A falling street count can accompany a rising sheltered count. Both measures are needed to determine if people entered temporary accommodation or permanent housing.
7. San Diego, California
San Diego City and County report 9,905 people experiencing homelessness. About 57.7% were unsheltered.
Vehicle Homelessness Is an Important Part of the Count
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Residents living in cars may have jobs, personal property and some income. They still lack a stable home.
Vehicle residents often move to avoid parking enforcement or complaints. That movement can make them difficult to locate during a one-night survey.
Safe Parking Provides Protection but Not Permanent Housing
Safe-parking sites can offer sanitation, security and contact with caseworkers. A vehicle generally remains an unsheltered location under HUD rules.
8. Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Mesa and Maricopa County count 9,734 people experiencing homelessness.
Rapid Growth Has Increased Housing Demand
Population growth has added pressure to housing across Maricopa County. Rent increases can place apartments outside the reach of households with low or unstable incomes.
Extreme Heat Creates Immediate Danger
People living outside face dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke during the summer. Cooling centers and water distribution can prevent deaths.
Emergency heat services provide short-term protection. They do not replace a permanent home.
9. Oakland, California
Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda County report 9,262 people experiencing homelessness. About 68.5% were unsheltered.
Outdoor Homelessness Is Spread Across Alameda County
Tents, vehicles and improvised structures are common forms of shelter. Conditions differ between Oakland, Berkeley and smaller cities within the county.
Countywide Progress Can Hide Local Increases
A decline in the full CoC total does not prove that every city improved. Housing placements and encampment changes may be concentrated in particular communities.
10. San Francisco, California
San Francisco reports 8,671 people experiencing homelessness. Its CoC boundaries closely match the consolidated city and county.
Density Makes Street Homelessness Highly Visible
San Francisco has a small land area and dense central neighborhoods. Unsheltered residents are therefore more visible than in counties where people are dispersed across large suburban or rural zones.
Temporary Shelter and Permanent Housing Serve Different Roles
Shelters offer immediate safety, sanitation and contact with services. Permanent supportive housing provides a lasting home alongside assistance for residents with disabilities or long histories of homelessness.
More shelter beds can reduce street exposure without immediately lowering the full homeless count.
11. Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas and Clark County report 7,741 people experiencing homelessness.
The Regional Economy Produces Housing Instability
Tourism and hospitality support a large share of local employment. Workers with irregular schedules or fluctuating hours can struggle when rent rises or employment falls.
The countywide count includes the Las Vegas Strip, downtown districts and surrounding communities.
Desert Conditions Increase Exposure Risks
Extreme heat creates severe summer danger. Cold desert nights also expose unsheltered residents to health risks during winter.
12. Santa Ana and Anaheim, California
Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange County count 7,710 people experiencing homelessness.
High Housing Costs Extend Beyond Coastal Cities
Orange County includes affluent coastal areas, dense inland communities and major tourism districts. Low-wage workers often live far from jobs or pay a large share of their income toward rent.
A Countywide Figure Can Conceal Uneven Conditions
Homelessness is not distributed equally across Orange County. Shelter capacity and local enforcement practices also differ between municipalities.
13. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago reports 7,452 people experiencing homelessness.
Sheltered Homelessness Forms Most of the Total
The city operates an extensive shelter system. Families, single adults and other qualifying residents in temporary facilities are included in the count.
Chicago’s total fell sharply from the unusually high level recorded one year earlier. Changes in temporary shelter use contributed to that movement.
Cold Weather Affects Where People Stay
January conditions increase the need for indoor shelter. Weather changes the balance between sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, but it does not explain why people lose housing.
14. Sacramento, California
Sacramento City and County report 6,995 people experiencing homelessness. About 56.4% were unsheltered.
Homelessness Is Not Limited to the Downtown Core
The regional total includes people in suburban areas, river corridors, vehicles and encampments outside central Sacramento.
Encampment Movement Can Distort Public Perception
Enforcement may move residents between neighborhoods. The population remains homeless unless relocation leads to shelter or permanent housing.
15. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston reports 5,540 people experiencing homelessness.
Boston Has One of the Highest Sheltered Shares
About 97.6% of its counted population was sheltered. It is the highest share among major-city CoCs examined by USAFacts using HUD data.
A High Sheltered Share Does Not Mean Homelessness Is Low
People in emergency facilities still lack permanent homes. Families can remain in temporary accommodation for extended periods because suitable rentals are unavailable.
16. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia reports 5,516 people experiencing homelessness.
The Count Includes More Than Street Homelessness
Emergency shelters and transitional programs account for much of the total. Residents found in transit areas, sidewalks and encampments form the unsheltered portion.
Housing Affordability Varies Across Neighborhoods
Philadelphia remains less expensive than several coastal cities in the ranking. Very low-income households can still face rent burdens, eviction and a shortage of suitable subsidized units.
17. Washington, D.C.
Washington reports 5,138 people experiencing homelessness.
The Total Is High Relative to the Resident Population
D.C. ranks below larger metropolitan regions by total count. Its population is much smaller. The city therefore records a high rate when homelessness is measured per 10,000 residents.
Total and Rate Rankings Answer Different Questions
The total indicates how many shelter beds, outreach workers and housing placements may be required. The rate shows how common homelessness is relative to the local population.
18. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu City and County report 4,920 people experiencing homelessness.
Island Geography Restricts Housing Options
Limited land, high construction costs and expensive imported materials constrain the supply of lower-cost homes.
Relocation Is More Difficult Than on the Mainland
Residents cannot easily move to a nearby county with lower rent. Geographic isolation also affects the cost and availability of healthcare, food and construction.
19. Fresno, California
Fresno City and County and Madera County report 4,905 people experiencing homelessness. About 62% were unsheltered.
The CoC Covers Urban and Agricultural Communities
The count spans Fresno and a large surrounding area. People may be found in vehicles, encampments, shelters and remote outdoor locations.
Lower Housing Costs Do Not Eliminate Risk
Rent is lower than in San Francisco or San Jose. Local wages are also lower. Seasonal work and unstable income can leave households vulnerable to housing loss.
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20. Stockton, California
Stockton and San Joaquin County report 4,760 people experiencing homelessness.
Suburban Homelessness Can Be Difficult to See
Residents may be spread across vehicles, industrial districts, waterways and temporary accommodation. A large county does not present the same visible concentration as a dense downtown.
Commuting Markets Affect Local Rent
San Joaquin County is connected to more expensive Bay Area employment markets. Housing demand from commuters can add pressure to lower-cost communities.
21. Long Island, New York
Nassau and Suffolk counties report 4,540 people experiencing homelessness.
Homelessness Is Not Only an Inner-City Problem
Suburban households can lose housing after an eviction, job loss, family crisis or domestic violence incident.
Temporary Motel Placements Affect the Sheltered Count
Families placed in qualifying motel rooms by public agencies can be included as sheltered. People staying temporarily with relatives usually fall outside HUD’s main definition.
22. San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino City and County report 4,320 people experiencing homelessness.
A Large Geographic Area Makes Outreach Difficult
San Bernardino County stretches from dense urban communities to remote desert areas. Unsheltered residents can be difficult to locate during a limited one-night survey.
Lower Rent Than the Coast Does Not Guarantee Affordability
Households moving inland may encounter lower prices. Transportation costs, lower wages and rent increases can still consume a large share of income.
23. Riverside, California
Riverside City and County report 4,229 people experiencing homelessness.
Inland Growth Has Increased Housing Pressure
Riverside County has absorbed residents seeking alternatives to expensive coastal markets. Fast population growth can outpace the supply of low-cost housing.
Distance Creates Service Barriers
People outside major population centers may need to travel long distances for shelters, healthcare, benefits and housing appointments.
24. Miami, Florida
Miami-Dade County counted 3,728 people experiencing homelessness. The total included 858 unsheltered residents.
Most People in the Count Were Sheltered
About 77% of the Miami-Dade population was inside shelters. The county reported a 17% annual decline in unsheltered homelessness.
The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust described the unsheltered figure as its lowest in more than a decade.
High Rent Remains a Serious Risk
Miami’s housing costs have risen faster than many local incomes. Households working in hospitality, retail and service jobs can face severe rent burdens.
25. Long Beach, California
Long Beach counted 3,595 people experiencing homelessness. The total increased by 219 from the prior count.
Long Beach Operates a Separate CoC
The city is located in Los Angeles County but is not included in the Los Angeles CoC figure. It manages its own homelessness system and conducts a separate count.
The City of Long Beach reported that 167 surveyed residents said the January 2025 wildfires had displaced them.
The City Has a Very High Unsheltered Share
About 71.4% of people in the Long Beach CoC were unsheltered. It was the highest proportion among the major-city CoCs assessed in the federal data.
New York and Los Angeles Present Two Different Crises
New York has far more people without permanent housing. Los Angeles has far more people living outside.
| Measure | New York City | Los Angeles City and County |
|---|---|---|
| Total homeless population | 125,683 | 67,777 |
| Sheltered share | 96.3% | 34.5% |
| Unsheltered share | 3.7% | 65.5% |
| Approximate sheltered population | 121,000 | 23,400 |
| Approximate unsheltered population | 4,700 | 44,400 |
| Geographic basis | City CoC | Most of Los Angeles County |
Different Measures Produce Different Conclusions
New York ranks first by total homelessness. Los Angeles records a much larger unsheltered population.
A statement that one has the more severe crisis requires a stated measure. Total population, unsheltered population, rate per resident and duration of homelessness describe different parts of the problem.
Urban Areas With the Highest Unsheltered Shares
| Rank by Unsheltered Share | Urban CoC | Unsheltered Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Long Beach | 71.4% |
| 2 | San Jose and Santa Clara County | 69.8% |
| 3 | Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda County | 68.5% |
| 4 | Los Angeles City and County | 65.5% |
| 5 | Fresno and Madera Counties | 62.0% |
| 6 | San Diego City and County | 57.7% |
| 7 | Sacramento City and County | 56.4% |
California Dominates the Unsheltered Ranking
All seven areas in the table are in California. Expensive housing, inadequate shelter capacity and mild winter conditions affect the balance between indoor and outdoor homelessness.
Climate does not cause housing loss. It influences where people can survive after losing a home.
Available Shelter May Still Be Unusable
Some residents avoid shelters because of safety concerns, disability barriers or previous negative experiences. Rules separating couples can also discourage entry.
Pet restrictions create another obstacle. A person may refuse a placement that requires abandoning an animal.
Urban Areas With the Highest Sheltered Shares
| Urban CoC | Sheltered Share | Unsheltered Share |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 97.6% | 2.4% |
| New York City | 96.3% | 3.7% |
| Milwaukee City and County | 94.6% | 5.4% |
| Memphis and Shelby County | 93.3% | 6.7% |
| Baltimore | 90.7% | 9.3% |
Shelter Reduces Exposure but Does Not End Homelessness
A high sheltered share protects more people from weather and street violence. It can also improve access to food, sanitation and caseworkers.
Emergency accommodation remains temporary. HUD continues to count a resident as homeless until the person enters permanent housing.
How These Areas Are Distributed Across the Country
| Region | Number of Ranked Areas | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| West | 18 | Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, San Jose, Portland and Phoenix |
| Northeast | 4 | New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Long Island |
| Midwest | 1 | Chicago |
| South | 2 | Washington, D.C. and Miami |
Western Areas Hold Most Places in the Ranking
The West accounts for more than two-thirds of the listed CoCs. California alone holds 10 positions.
High housing costs contribute to the pattern. Large county boundaries also affect the totals. Several Western CoCs cover extensive metropolitan areas rather than one municipality.
National Homelessness in 2026
The latest federal report shows 745,652 people experiencing homelessness on one night in January 2025.
| National Measure | People | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency shelter | 416,515 | 55.9% |
| Transitional housing | 62,817 | 8.4% |
| All sheltered locations | 479,332 | 64.3% |
| Unsheltered locations | 266,320 | 35.7% |
| Total homeless population | 745,652 | 100% |
The National Total Fell by About 3%
The number declined from 771,480 to 745,652. HUD described it as the first annual national decrease since 2016.
Sheltered homelessness fell by about 3.6%. Unsheltered homelessness fell by about 2.9%.
The Decline Was Not Shared by Every Group
Chronic homelessness rose by 2.1%. The number of adults aged 65 or older experiencing homelessness increased by 6.8%, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Older adults face specific barriers. Fixed incomes may not cover rent. Disabilities can restrict employment. Standard shelters may lack accessible bathrooms, beds and medical support.
Chronic Homelessness Remains Near a Record Level
HUD counted 169,467 people experiencing chronic homelessness.
| Chronically Homeless Population | People |
|---|---|
| Sheltered | 69,780 |
| Unsheltered | 99,687 |
| Total | 169,467 |
Most Chronically Homeless Residents Were Unsheltered
Nearly 59% of people experiencing chronic homelessness were living outside shelter systems.
Chronic homelessness generally involves an extended or repeated period without housing alongside a qualifying disability. People in this group often need more than short-term rent assistance.
Permanent Supportive Housing Addresses Multiple Barriers
Permanent supportive housing combines a long-term home with services. Support can include healthcare coordination, case management, mental health treatment and help obtaining benefits.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office has identified housing and support services as connected parts of an effective response.
Why Some Cities Have Larger Homeless Populations
High Rent and Limited Affordable Housing
Housing cost is one of the strongest local predictors of homelessness. A review by The Pew Charitable Trusts found higher homelessness levels in urban areas with more expensive rent.
A household already spending most of its income on housing has little protection from an emergency. A modest rent increase or loss of work hours can make the next payment impossible.
Eviction and Income Loss
Homelessness often starts with a specific financial event. A worker loses a job. Hours are cut. A medical expense consumes rent money. A household separates and loses one income.
An eviction can create lasting barriers. Court records, unpaid rent and damaged credit may reduce the number of landlords willing to approve another application.
Prevention Can Cost Less Than Rehousing
Emergency rent payments and legal help can stop a temporary crisis from becoming homelessness. Assistance works best before the tenant loses the home.
Domestic Violence
Some residents leave because remaining at home is dangerous. Survivors may enter shelters without savings, documents or time to arrange another residence.
Family homelessness does not always begin with an ordinary eviction. A household can disappear because violence makes the home unsafe.
Disability, Mental Illness and Substance Use
Mental illness and substance use can make housing harder to obtain or retain. They do not explain why one metropolitan region has a much larger homeless population than another.
Most people with mental illness or substance use disorders do not become homeless. Housing costs, income, treatment access and family support change the risk.
Natural Disasters
Fires, hurricanes and floods can destroy homes or make buildings uninhabitable. Displaced residents may enter temporary facilities or live in vehicles.
Disasters also reduce local housing supply. Competition for the remaining units can push rent higher.
What the Point-in-Time Count Includes
HUD requires CoCs to estimate homelessness during one night in the final 10 days of January.
Sheltered Homelessness
The sheltered count includes people staying in:
- emergency shelters
- safe-haven programs
- transitional housing
- qualifying hotel or motel rooms paid for by a public agency or nonprofit organization
Unsheltered Homelessness
The unsheltered count includes people staying in:
- streets and sidewalks
- parks
- tents and encampments
- cars, vans and recreational vehicles
- abandoned buildings
- transit stations
- other locations not intended for regular sleeping
What the Federal Count Can Miss
People Staying Temporarily With Others
HUD generally excludes people staying with friends or relatives because they have nowhere else to go. Such arrangements are often described as doubling up or couch surfing.
Education agencies use a broader definition for homeless students. School figures and HUD figures should not be treated as interchangeable.
People in Hidden Locations
Survey teams may miss residents sleeping in remote woods, concealed vehicles, private property or abandoned structures.
Severe weather can also change where people stay on the night of the survey.
People Who Lose Housing at Another Time
The count captures one night. A household that loses housing one week later does not appear. A person who obtained housing shortly before the survey is also absent.
People in Institutions
People in hospitals, jails, prisons or treatment facilities are generally not counted as homeless that night. Some have no stable home available when they leave.
Differences in Local Methods
Local agencies follow federal standards but do not all use identical survey methods. Some conduct a direct census. Others combine field observations, interviews, samples and statistical estimates.
The HUD CoC population reports state that HUD performs a limited data review but does not independently verify every local submission.
Total Homeless Population and Homelessness Rate Are Different
The ranking uses total homeless population. It does not rank areas by the share of residents experiencing homelessness.
| Measure | Calculation | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Total homeless population | Sheltered plus unsheltered people | The scale of local need |
| Homelessness rate | Homeless population divided by resident population | How common homelessness is locally |
| Unsheltered share | Unsheltered population divided by total homeless population | How much homelessness occurs outside |
| Sheltered share | Sheltered population divided by total homeless population | How much of the population is inside temporary programs |
Small Cities Can Have High Rates
A smaller city may have fewer people experiencing homelessness but a higher rate per 10,000 residents. New York ranks first by total, but it does not automatically rank first by every rate measure.
What Can Reduce Homelessness?
Preventing Housing Loss
Emergency rental assistance, eviction defense and landlord mediation can help a household remain in place.
Prevention is most effective before an eviction order, utility shutoff or forced move.
Rapid Rehousing
Rapid rehousing provides temporary rent support and help finding a landlord. It is designed for households that can assume the rent after short-term assistance.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Permanent supportive housing serves people with disabilities and long histories of homelessness. The tenancy is not subject to a short program deadline.
More Low-Cost Homes
A city cannot rehouse people without available homes. New construction, housing vouchers, converted buildings and preservation of existing low-rent units can expand the number of realistic options.
Accessible Emergency Shelter
Shelters need safe beds, sanitation and trained staff. They also need suitable facilities for people with physical disabilities.
Rules concerning couples, pets, possessions and work schedules affect who can use a bed. Availability alone does not guarantee access.
Better Coordination Between Agencies
Housing departments, healthcare providers, schools, courts and nonprofit organizations often serve the same residents. Shared referral systems can reduce repeated assessments and missed appointments.
Methodology
The ranking uses the 2025 Point-in-Time estimates published by HUD in May 2026. The survey covered one night in January 2025.
Only major-city, urban and suburban CoCs were considered. Rural CoCs can cover large multi-county territories and are not suitable for a ranking presented around cities.
Totals combine sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. City names identify the principal urban centers. Actual CoC boundaries are shown in the main table.
Percentages were calculated from HUD totals and rounded to one decimal place. Rounded shares can produce small differences when converted back into population estimates.
Local agency sources were used to explain revised totals and city-specific findings. The federal dataset remains the basis of the national comparison.
Bottom Line
New York and Los Angeles remain in a separate category from every other urban area. Their combined homeless population is larger than the totals of the next 14 ranked CoCs combined.
The two leaders do not present the same conditions. New York places nearly everyone counted inside temporary accommodation. Los Angeles has a smaller total but tens of thousands more people living outside.
Seattle occupies a distant third place. Denver, San Jose and Portland form the next group with slightly more than 10,000 people each.
California’s presence is the clearest regional pattern. Ten of the 25 ranked areas are in the state. California also holds every place in the table of urban CoCs with the highest unsheltered shares.
Visible tents represent only one part of homelessness. Families in shelters, workers living in vehicles and residents placed in temporary motel rooms are also included.
City totals require geographic context. Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix and San Diego cover large county or regional systems. New York, San Francisco and Washington follow boundaries closer to those of a single city.
The latest national decline is important, but it does not indicate that the crisis has ended. Chronic homelessness increased. More older adults lost stable housing. More than one-third of the national population remained unsheltered.
Long-term progress depends on available housing, effective prevention and services for residents with complex health needs. Shelter can keep people alive. Permanent housing is what removes them from the homeless count.
