HUD No. 20-003

HUD Public Affairs

(202) 708-0685 FOR RELEASE

Tuesday

January 7, 2020

HUD RELEASES 2019 ANNUAL HOMELESS ASSESSMENT REPORT

Homelessness Increase in California Offsets Combined Decrease in All other States;

Continued Declines Noted Among Veterans and Families with Children



WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its 2019 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. The report certified last month by HUD Secretary Ben Carson, found that 567,715 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2019, an increase of 14,885 people since 2018. Meanwhile, homelessness among veterans and families with children continued to fall, declining 2.1 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively, in 2019.

There is significant local variation reported from different parts of the country. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia reported declines in homelessness between 2018 and 2019, while 21 states reported increases in the number of persons experiencing homelessness. Homelessness in California increased by 21,306 people, or 16.4 percent, which is more than the total national increase of every other state combined.

"The Trump Administration is committed to working with local communities to find effective ways to end homelessness," said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. "HUD will continue these efforts to help end the suffering of our most vulnerable neighbors in the most compassionate way possible." "As we look across our nation, we see great progress, but we’re also seeing a continued increase in street homelessness along our West Coast where the cost of housing is extremely high," said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. "In fact, homelessness in California is at a crisis level and needs to be addressed by local and state leaders with crisis-like urgency. Addressing these challenges will require a broader, community-wide response that engages every level of government to compassionately house our most vulnerable fellow citizens."

HUD's national estimate is based upon data reported by approximately 3,000 cities and counties across the nation. Every year on a single night in January, planning agencies called "Continuums of Care," (COC) along with tens of thousands of volunteers, seek to identify the number of individuals and families living in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and in unsheltered settings. These one-night 'snapshot' counts, as well as full-year counts and data from other sources (U.S. Housing Survey, Department of Education), are crucial in understanding the scope of homelessness and measuring progress toward reducing it.

Key Findings

On a single night in January 2019, state and local planning agencies (Continuums of Care) reported:

567,715 people were homeless, representing an overall 2.7 percent increase from 2018 but a nearly 11 percent decline since 2010.

were homeless, representing an overall 2.7 percent increase from 2018 but a nearly 11 percent decline since 2010. 37,085 Veterans were reported as homeless, a decline of 2.1 percent from 2018 and 50 percent since 2010.

were reported as homeless, a from 2018 and 50 percent since 2010. 53,692 families with children experienced homelessness last January, down nearly 5 percent from 2018 and more than 32 percent since 2010.

experienced homelessness last January, from 2018 and more than 32 percent since 2010. Homelessness increased in California by 21,306 people, or 16.4 percent , accounting for more than the entire national increase.

, accounting for more than the entire national increase. The estimated number of persons experiencing long-term, chronic homelessness increased 8.5 percent between 2018 and 2019. This increase was concentrated on the West Coast, with the largest increases in California. The number of unaccompanied homeless youth and children in 2019 is estimated to be 35,038, a 3.6 percent decline since 2018.

Homelessness in California

California reported a large increase of 21,306 persons experiencing homelessness, or 16.4 percent. Last year’s increases are particularly noteworthy among unsheltered individuals and the chronically homeless.

Veteran Homelessness

Homelessness among Veterans is half of what was reported in 2010. Last year alone, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness declined by 2.1 percent. These declines are the result of intense planning and targeted interventions, including the close collaboration between HUD and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Both agencies jointly administer the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, which combines permanent HUD rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. This year, more than 4,400 veterans, many experiencing chronic forms of homelessness, will find permanent housing and critically needed support services through the HUD-VASH program. An additional 50,000 veterans found permanent housing and supportive services through VA’s continuum of homeless programs.

Family Homelessness

Local communities continue to report declines in homelessness among families with children in the U.S. In January of 2019, there were 53,692 family households with children experiencing homelessness, a decline of five percent between 2018 and 2019, and 32 percent between 2007 and 2019. Following HUD’s guidance and data-driven evidence and best practices, local planners are increasingly relying upon interventions to move families into permanent housing more quickly and at lower cost. Communities are using more robust coordinated entry efforts, which have proven to be an effective response in helping families experiencing temporary crises as well as those enduring the most chronic forms of homelessness.

Chronic Homelessness

Long-term or chronic homelessness among individuals with disabilities grew 8.5 percent since 2018, while falling 9.4 percent below the levels reported in 2010. This longer trend is due in large measure to more permanent supportive housing opportunities available for people with disabling health conditions who otherwise continually cycle through local shelters or the streets.