The level and extent of homelessness varies substantially across cities and metropolitan areas in the United States. This study examines homelessness variation at a regional level across 97 metropolitan areas.  The findings of a multivariate analysis show that climate is among the strongest variables in determining homelessness per capita, together with housing cost and density. Economic variables such as income, poverty and unemployment we find to be insignificant.  We find no statistical association between homelessness and social factors such as mental health, disability, or uninsured.