Homelessness in the United States soared by 12% to more than 650,000 people during a single-night count at the start of 2023, reflecting a surge in first-time homelessness. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development stated in a new assessment of the homeless population provided to Congress that on a single night in January 2023, roughly 653,100 people — or about 20 of every 10,000 people in the United States — were experiencing homelessness.