U.S. homeless population decreased by more than 6 percent in 2025

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States dropped by more than 6 percent in 2025, meaning approximately 49,000 fewer people lived without housing.

This marks the second consecutive year of decline for the nation, following a smaller decrease in 2024. Despite this drop, nearly 700,000 people still live in shelters or on the streets, which remains significantly higher than levels before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner attributed the decrease to President Trump's immigration policies and actions to secure the border. The administration argues that these measures, along with a crackdown on public encampments following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling, drove the historic decline. Supporters of the administration also point to cities like San Francisco, which is increasing sober-living options that ban drugs and alcohol, as a factor in the downward trend.

Ann Oliva, the chief executive officer of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, credited different reasons for the decline. She stated that programs funded by Congress and those that provide housing without preconditions helped get people off the streets, particularly veterans. While homelessness among veterans fell by more than 7 percent last year, Oliva noted that the number of chronically homeless people increased slightly.

She also suggested that softening rental markets and government assistance following natural disasters in Hawaii and western North Carolina contributed to the lower figures.