US homeless population fell by record 6.3 percent in January 2026

The Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that the unhoused population in the United States fell by 6.3 percent to 698,425 people on a single night in January 2026.

This represents the second consecutive annual decline following record highs in 2024. HUD Secretary Scott Turner stated that homelessness remains near a historic high despite the drop of approximately 47,000 people.

Turner attributed the decline to aggressive anti-immigration policies and announced that the agency will shift focus toward a treatment first model that emphasizes addiction recovery and accountability. The National Alliance to End Homelessness attributed the drop to local service providers and front-line systems. The organization reported a 7.6 percent decline in sheltered homelessness and a nearly 8 percent decline in homelessness among veterans.

Ann Oliva, the CEO of the alliance, warned that the Trump administration's efforts to defund Permanent Supportive Housing could erase these gains.