New homelessness data: How does California compare to the rest of the country?

CALIFORNIA’S HOMELESS POPULATION remains the biggest in the nation, but the crisis is growing more slowly here than in most of the rest of the country, according to new federal data. 

The number of homeless Californians increased just over 3% last year compared to the year before, with more than 187,000 people sleeping on the street or in shelters in the state as of January 2024. Overall, the country saw an increase of slightly more than 18%, and 22 states saw double-digit increases. Just six states, including Wyoming, Tennessee and Maine, saw their homeless populations decrease.