The Point-In-Time Count Report Shows Homelessness Increased During Decade of “Housing First” Policies
HUD today released the 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report: Part 1: Point-in-Time (PIT) Estimates, which found that 745,652 people were homeless, including 266,320 people living on the street on a single night in January 2025 – a 27% increase since 2013 and a 3% decrease since 2024, attributable to decreases in Sanctuary Cities.
“The data is clear that the status quo of ‘housing first’ has failed to meaningfully reduce homelessness, resulting in crisis levels of people living on the streets,” said Secretary Scott Turner. “HUD is restoring its programs to advance recovery and self-sufficiency and to ensure that taxpayer-funded benefits serve American families.”
Key findings:
- 745,652 individuals were homeless on a single night in January 2025
- 266,320 individuals were living unsheltered on a single night in January 2025
- 1,456,923 individuals were either homeless or living in taxpayer subsidized/funded housing for the homeless
- Between 2013 and 2025:
- Homelessness increased 27%
- Unsheltered homelessness increased 36%
- Chronic homelessness increased 81%
- Taxpayer funded beds increased 151%
- Continuum of Care (CoC) spending increased 111%
HUD used 2013 as a baseline for long-term trend comparisons because that period marked the beginning of “Housing First” policy changes within HUD homelessness programs.
Point-in-Time counts do not include people living in taxpayer-funded housing assistance for the homeless.
Read the full report here.