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:
References