HUD Announces Homelessness Decreased by 6% in 2026

By: Steven Molinari, Policy Analyst

November 9, 2026 — Last Friday, HUD announced that homelessness in the U.S. decreased by 6.3% according to data from the 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) count.

The PIT count is usually a one-night count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness, and is typically conducted nationwide by localities during the coldest time of the year. This is in order to capture homeless shelters when they are at their maximum capacity and is also meant to provide a more accurate representation of the state of homelessness in U.S.

According to HUD, it is estimated that 698,425 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2026 compared to 745,652 people in 2025. This the lowest since 2023.

For clarification, this data is usually announced with the release of the Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, which is typically in December. NAHRO still expects HUD to release the 2026 AHAR report by the end of the year, which should provide a better understanding of the data.