California currently has the highest homeless population of any U.S. state, with roughly 180,000–190,000 people experiencing homelessness, accounting for close to 30% of the nation’s total.

Key takeaway

  • California has by far the largest number of homeless people, ahead of New York, Florida, Washington, Texas, and Oregon.
  • New York often ranks second in total homeless population, though it has one of the highest homelessness rates relative to its population as well.

Quick Scoop: numbers vs. rates

When people ask “which state has the highest homeless population,” they usually mean total headcount, not rate per resident.

  • Highest total homeless population (latest data) :
    • California: about 181,000–187,000 people.
* New York: about 150,000–160,000 people.
  • Highest homelessness rates (homeless people per resident, among states):
    • New York and Hawaii have some of the highest rates in recent analyses.

So in raw numbers, the answer is California; in rate per capita, smaller states like Hawaii or higher-density states like New York can rank at the top.

Why California tops the list

Analyses and policy groups point to a mix of structural issues:

  • Very high housing costs and severe shortages of affordable housing in major metros like Los Angeles and the Bay Area.
  • Large urban population, meaning even a small percentage at risk translates into many people.
  • Gaps in access to mental health care, substance-use treatment, and supportive housing, despite significant state spending.

States clustering at the top

Across recent national homeless counts, the majority of people experiencing homelessness are concentrated in a handful of large, urbanized states.

  • States with the largest homeless populations include:
    • California, New York, Florida, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Massachusetts, Colorado, Arizona, and Pennsylvania.
  • Roughly two-thirds of the U.S. homeless population lives in just a small group of these high-population, high-cost states.

Mini FAQ

Has this changed recently?
Not in direction: California has led the country in total homeless population for years, and recent 2023–2024 data still places it at number one.

Does this mean California is “worst” for homelessness?
It means the largest number of people without stable housing are there; evaluating “worst” also depends on shelter availability, services, and how many people are unsheltered versus in temporary housing.

Information gathered from public data sources and news outlets and portrayed here.