Kids experience largest single-year increase of any group
As temperatures dip into the low double-digits across much of the United States and snow blankets the South, new data show that the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night hit a new record in 2024, with children experiencing the most dramatic increase.
The number of people experiencing homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing program, or in unsheltered locations across the country increased 18% over 2023 to an all-time high of 771,480 people – or about 23 of every 10,000 people — according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, reflecting a 33% increase — or 32,618 more children — over 2023, the largest single-year increase of any group.
As shocking as these figures are, they still gravely underestimate the actual rate of homelessness among children, youth, and families.
“HUD’s point-in-time count does not capture how most families experience homelessness,” said First Focus Campaign for Children Vice President of Family Economics Cara Baldari. “Homeless children and families are often forced to stay in less visible situations, making the numbers — and the risks for those children — significantly higher.”
HUD’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Counts are unduplicated one-night estimates of both sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. The one-night counts are conducted nationwide and occur during the last week in January of each year. In contrast, education and early childhood agencies, which apply a more realistic definition of homelessness, estimate the number of children experiencing homelessness to be more than 1.4 million and growing.
Between the 2004-05 school year and the 2022-2023 school year public school data show a 110% increase in children and families who meet the federal education definition of homelessness, which includes those in shelters and motels, unsheltered, and staying temporarily with others. With the exception of decreased estimates during the pandemic, resulting from school building closures and the inability to identify homeless students, the overall trend has been steadily upward.
First Focus Campaign for Children calls on the 119th Congress and the newly installed Trump Administration to take the following actions to address the rapidly growing problem of child, youth and family homelessness:
- Pass the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA): The bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 5221), reintroduced in the 118th Congress, would align federal definitions of homelessness for children and youth. The legislation removes barriers, streamlines assistance, leverages resources, and brings greater visibility to the reality of family and youth homelessness.
- Pass the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act: The bipartisan Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act (S. 1257/H.R. 3776), reintroduced in the 118th Congress, would create an additional 250,000 housing vouchers over five years specifically for low-income, high-need families with young children. This legislation is especially important to combat the extraordinarily high rates of homelessness among infants and toddlers, and other young children.
- Improve the Child Tax Credit: A quarter of children cannot receive the full Child Tax Credit because their parents make too little to quality, primarily affecting children in rural communities, children of color, and children in larger families. Lawmakers must enhance the Child Tax Credit to better reach these households.
- Create and implement a national Renter Tax Credit: Rents have increased nearly 20% nationwide since 2019, yet 80% of federal housing tax benefits go to homeowners. Creating a national renter tax credit would deliver resources directly to children in families and young adults, who are greater risk of homelessness and less likely to receive housing assistance. A national renter tax credit would deliver resources directly to families and young adults and reach many more than are currently served by rental assistance.