From NPR · · 1m 40s
U.S. homelessness drops 6% in largest decline in over a decade
The homeless population fell by roughly 49,000 people in 2025, but officials disagree sharply on why.
In brief
The homeless population fell by roughly 49,000 people in 2025, but officials disagree sharply on why. U.S. homelessness dropped more than six percent in 2025, the largest decline in over a decade, though nearly seven hundred thousand people still lack housing. Originally reported by NPR.
Homelessness drops 6% in 2025
The U.S. homeless population fell more than six percent last year, dropping roughly forty-nine thousand people. It is the second consecutive year of decline after years of increases to record-high levels.
Trump administration credits border enforcement
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner said the decline was driven by actions to secure the border and remove undocumented immigrants from streets. The administration called it a historic decrease in homelessness.
“President Trump's actions to secure the border, get criminal illegals off our streets, and restore safety to our communities drove a historic decrease in homelessness.”
Advocacy group credits housing programs
The National Alliance to End Homelessness commissioned an independent analysis of the same count. CEO Ann Oliva said the decline shows that programs funded by Congress and housing initiatives are working.
“It's good news that more people are getting housed, and that the programs that are funded by Congress are working.”
Nearly 700,000 still lack housing
Despite the decline, nearly seven hundred thousand people in the U.S. still live in shelters or on the streets. This is significantly more than before the COVID-nineteen pandemic.
Immigration surge drove city declines
During the Biden administration, New York, Chicago, Boston and Denver saw surges in asylum seekers at homeless shelters.
“That's also the four cities that have driven half of the drop most recently.”
Veterans homelessness down 7% last year
Homelessness among U.S.veterans fell more than seven percent in twenty twenty-five and has declined nearly sixty percent since twenty ten.Ann Oliva said programs getting people off the street without preconditions were key to these gains.
Chronic homelessness ticked up slightly
Unlike other groups, people who have been homeless for a long time saw a small uptick last year.
What to remember
U.S. homelessness dropped more than six percent in 2025, the largest decline in over a decade, though nearly seven hundred thousand people still lack housing.
