The spike in people experiencing homelessness is driven by high housing costs, an influx of migrant families, natural disasters, and the nation’s ongoing mental health crisis

Homelessness in the country surged 18% this year, reaching a record 771,480 people who experienced homelessness on a single night in January, per the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), marking the highest level since the federal government began keeping records in 2007.

The number surpasses 2023’s figure of more than 653,000 people.

The spike is driven by high housing costs, an influx of migrant families that have overwhelmed shelters in cities like New York and Chicago, natural disasters, the end of pandemic-era protections, and the nation’s ongoing mental health crisis.

California and New York remain the states with the largest homeless populations, at 187,000 and 158,000, respectively.

Meanwhile, homelessness among veterans decreased 7.6% to a record low of nearly 33,000, thanks to HUD’s rental assistance programs.