U.S. homelessness dropped more than 6% in 2025, about 49,000 people

The short version

• NPR reports the U.S. homeless population fell more than 6% in 2025, roughly 49,000 fewer people.[NPR]
• HUD Secretary Scott Turner attributed the decline to President Trump's border and public-safety actions, while an advocacy-commissioned analysis credited congressionally funded housing programs.[NPR]
• Both analyses still count nearly 700,000 people in shelters or on the streets, and they credit different causes for the decline.[NPR]
• Veteran homelessness dropped more than 7% last year, while long-term homelessness saw a small uptick.[NPR]

Key facts

• The U.S. homeless population dropped more than 6% in 2025, roughly 49,000 fewer people without housing.[NPR]
• HUD Secretary Scott Turner attributed the decline to President Trump's actions on the border and public safety.[NPR]
• HUD also credited a crackdown on homeless encampments following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling.[NPR]
• The National Alliance to End Homelessness commissioned a separate analysis of the same count, which credited programs funded by Congress with housing more people.[NPR]
• Both analyses find nearly 700,000 people in the U.S. living in shelters or on the streets.[NPR]
• Homelessness among U.S. veterans was down more than 7% last year.[NPR]
• There was a small uptick in people who have been homeless for a long time.[NPR]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Homelessness in the U.S. saw its largest drop in more than a decade last yearNPR - Top News