The Department of Family and Support Services conducted the last official homelessness survey for the city of Chicago in January 2019, by mandate of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It showed a slight drop in the overall number of homeless residents from 2018 and examined the demographic breakdown of those affected.

In 2019, there were a total of 5,290 homeless individuals. By contrast, there were 5,450 the year before. Of the 5,290 homeless citizens in 2019, there were 4,030 in some type of shelter while 1,260 were unsheltered, or taking refuge in a place not meant for habitation. By contrast, in 2018, of the 5,450 homeless, 4,093 were sheltered and 1,357 were not.

A downward trend in the overall number of homeless people in the city has remained steady since 2015, when it topped out at 6,786.

Between 2018 and 2019 there was a spike in the number of women living in shelters, while the number of men decreased. In 2018, shelters had a split of 58.1 percent male and 41 percent female. In 2019, the shelters were 54.4 percent male and 45 percent female. Similar to 2018, 0.5 percent of the sheltered homeless citizens in 2019 identified as transgender or declined to identify with any gender. The survey also included a gender-nonconforming option, which 0.2 percent of sheltered and unsheltered people identified with.

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The same principle applied to the unsheltered homeless population between 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the unsheltered populace was made up of 84.7 percent men and 15.3 percent women. By 2019, the male share had dropped to 79.7 percent and the female share had risen to 19.5 percent.

Veteran homelessness reportedly decreased 47 percent in Chicago since 2015. It went from a high of 752 individuals down to 399 by 2019.

The number of unsheltered youth decreased 19.5 percent since 2018, while the number of sheltered unaccompanied youth saw a 7 percent decrease.

Despite the positive numbers, the report's conclusion cited drug use, mental illness, and disabilities as having contributed to the systemic problem of homelessness in the city, and claimed such issues leave the homeless population vulnerable, despite the best efforts of state and city government.

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"The vulnerability of this population has remained steady based on rates of physical disabilities, substance use, and mental illness," the report reads.

"Given the age of unsheltered homeless persons, many in the 41-60 and over 60 ranges, the homeless persons found on the street are more at risk than ever."