Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

This resource presents facts about individuals experiencing homelessness.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s June 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (2010 AHAR)i, on a given night in January 2010:

  • 407,966 individuals were homeless in shelters, transitional housing programs, or on the streets (this number does not include persons in family households)1
  • 109,812 individuals were chronically homeless, a 1% decrease from the previous year

Over the course of a year (October 2009-September 2010)ii, the 2010 AHAR found that2:

  • 1,593,150 individuals experienced homelessness

According to 1996 National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients (1996 NSHAPC) data3, 85% of homeless clients were single.

Gender, Age, Race/Ethnicity

Among all sheltered individuals over the course of a year (October 2009-September 2010)iii:

  • 62% were male
  • 38% were female
  • 21.8% are under age 18
  • 23.5% are 18-30
  • 37% are 31 to 50
  • 14.9% are 51 to 61
  • 2.8% are 62 or older
  • 41.6% are White, Non-Hispanic
  • 9.7% are White, Hispanic
  • 37% are Black/African-American
  • 4.5% are other single races; 7.2% are multiple races

Mental Illness & Substance Use

On a given night in January 2010iv:

  • 26.2% of all sheltered persons who were homeless had a severe mental illness
  • 34.7% of all sheltered adults who were homeless had chronic substance use issues

View the HRC's additional factsheets:

Footnotes

1 Data in the AHAR are comprised of annual point-in-time counts and HMIS data reported throughout the year (October 2009-September 2010). Data are reported based on HUD’s definition of homelessness, which includes people in shelters and on the streets, but not those who are “doubled up” with families or friends.

2 This number represents people who accessed emergency shelter or transitional housing programs.

3 NSHAPC data only includes people who accessed homeless assistance programs.

References

i U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2011). The 2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. Washington, DC. [2010 AHAR]

ii 2010 AHAR

iii 2010 AHAR

iv 2010 AHAR

Publication Date: 
2010
Location: 
Rockville, MD, USA