15 States with the Lowest Homeless Populations Per Capita in the US

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In this article, we will take a look at the 15 states with the lowest homeless populations per capita in the US. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to the 5 States with the Lowest Homeless Populations Per Capita in the US.

Homelessness in America

Homelessness in the United States is a growing concern, with hundreds of thousands of individuals experiencing it across the country. In one of our previous articles about the states with the highest homeless populations per capita, we mentioned that the number of homeless individuals surged by 12% year-over-year to reach a record high of 653,000 in 2023. According to the 2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) by The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, certain states experienced significant shifts in homelessness rates between 2022 and 2023. The states that experienced the largest percentage increases in homelessness between 2022 and 2023 were New Hampshire (52%) and New Mexico (50%). Conversely, Louisiana and Delaware saw the most significant percentage decreases, with Louisiana reporting 57% fewer people experiencing homelessness and Delaware observing a 47% decline.

The rise in homelessness can be attributed to various factors, including economic disparities and housing affordability challenges. The cost of rent is rising to new heights, causing a significant financial strain for many Americans. According to a report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, in 2022, the median rent was 21% higher than it was in 2001, while renters’ incomes have only increased by 2% during the same period. As of 2022, the number of renters who were spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities had reached a record high of 22.4 million. Among these renters, 12.1 million were paying more than half of their income for housing. This was also an all-time high.

Various organizations are increasingly taking proactive measures to address the homelessness crisis. On April 19, CNBC reported that the Homelessness Prevention Unit of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is utilizing predictive artificial intelligence (AI) in a pilot program to identify individuals and families at risk of homelessness. Launched in 2021, the program has supported nearly 800 individuals and families facing homelessness, with 86% of participants retaining permanent housing when they leave the program. Participants receive financial aid ranging from $4,000 to $8,000, primarily funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. While locating those in need and convincing them that the offer is real and not a scam can be challenging, once contact is established, aid is promptly offered to help them get stabilized and remain housed.