U.S. Homelessness Rose to 745,000 by 2025
Despite major spending increases in cities, rising housing costs continue to outpace available support services.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Employment
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The U.S. homeless population grew to 745,000 in 2025 from 580,000 in 2020. This shift occurred even as twelve major cities increased their collective spending on support services by 75% over five years.
Why it matters
The rise reflects a gap where the rate of housing loss, driven by high rents and limited inventory, continues to exceed the capacity of current municipal spending and aid efforts. Households in impacted areas face reduced access to vouchers and long-term stability as housing demand heavily outpaces supply.
Nationwide homelessness grew to 745,000 in 2025, compared to 580,000 in 2020. Meanwhile, New York City spending on homelessness climbed from $1.4 billion in 2016 to $4 billion in 2025 as the local homeless population reached 125,000.
The players
Phoenix
A municipal government managing shelter operations, public assistance programs, and local housing voucher waitlists.
New York City
A major municipal authority managing a $4 billion annual budget dedicated to homeless services and shelter provision.
San Francisco
A municipal government managing public homeless support resources and monitoring population counts.
The details
Municipalities like Phoenix have expanded shelter capacity, increasing beds from 200 to 1,600 between 2020 and 2025, while also funding temporary services like rest areas. However, these measures often struggle to transition individuals into permanent housing due to regional supply constraints, such as Arizona's 270,000-unit housing shortage. Consequently, waiting lists for support systems remain extensive, with 43,000 applicants currently on the list for housing vouchers in Phoenix.
Timeline
2016: New York City homeless budget was $1.4 billion.
2020: Total U.S. homeless count was 580,000.
2021: Phoenix homeless count was 6,900.
2023: Phoenix stopped accepting new housing voucher applications.
2025: Total U.S. homeless count reached 745,000.
Money Landscape
This trend marks an escalation of the long-standing gap between housing supply and demand in low-income rental markets. Current municipal spending growth underscores the difficulty of addressing displacement when the rate of housing loss outpaces the available stock.
Households facing housing instability should verify the status of local voucher programs, as many cities have closed applications due to high demand. Reviewing local housing authority public filings can help families understand the current wait times and eligibility for assistance in their area.
The takeaway
Rising homelessness remains a critical marker of the broader imbalance between housing costs and income-based support. Families should prioritize monitoring local housing authority updates for any changes in voucher program status or application windows in their region.
Further reading
For more on the economic conditions affecting housing, visit Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
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