U.S. Homeless Population Drops 6 Percent in 2025

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the national homeless population fell by more than 6 percent in 2025. This record decline reduced the total number of homeless individuals by over 47,000, leaving a total of 698,425 people. This represents the second consecutive year of decline for the country.

Housing Secretary Scott Turner attributed the drop to border security measures and efforts by President Donald Trump to remove criminal illegal immigrants from the streets. However, data indicates the decline was heavily influenced by the departure of asylum seekers from cities including New York, Chicago, Boston, and Denver, where shelters had previously been flooded.

Advocacy groups, including the National Alliance to End Homelessness and Community Solutions, argue the data instead validates Housing First policies that provide rental subsidies without treatment mandates. While the overall national number fell, chronic homelessness rose by approximately 1 percent. Trends also varied by city, with homelessness increasing in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas.