Fact-check analysisVerified as of July 19, 2025Curated by FactVerify
Mostly True

Hawaii and New York have the highest rates of homelessness among the 50 US states.

Hawaii has the highest rate of homelessness among US states, and New York ranks among the highest, though some sources also note Washington, D.C. Has comparable or higher rates.

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Source: factverify.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 19, 2025
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that Hawaii and New York have the highest rates of homelessness among the 50 US states is largely supported by multiple data sources. Hawaii consistently reports the highest homelessness rate per capita, with figures around 80. 5 per 10,000 people or approximately 465 per 100,000.usafacts.orgusafacts.orgWhich states have the highest and lowest rates of homelessness?lendingtree.comlendingtree.comNearly 650,000 People Are Homeless in the US

New York also ranks very high, with rates reported around 399 to 527 per 100,000 depending on the source.security.orgsecurity.orgHomelessness in America: Statistics, Analysis, & Trendslendingtree.comlendingtree.comNearly 650,000 People Are Homeless in the US However, some sources indicate that Washington, D.C., which is not a state but a federal district, has rates comparable to or slightly exceeding those of Hawaii and New York.usafacts.orgusafacts.orgWhich states have the highest and lowest rates of homelessness?usnews.comusnews.comThese States Have the Largest Homeless Populations

Additionally, Vermont and other areas occasionally appear in top rankings depending on methodology. The claim is accurate in identifying Hawaii and New York as having the highest state-level rates but omits mention of D.C., which complicates a strict ranking. The data also distinguishes between total homeless population counts and rates per capita; New York has one of the largest absolute homeless populations but Hawaii leads in rate per capita.

This nuance is important for full context.

Primary trail

Verified Sources5

Which states have the highest and lowest rates of homelessness?

usafacts.org
Open source

These States Have the Largest Homeless Populations

usnews.com
Open source

Homelessness in America: Statistics, Analysis, & Trends

security.org
Open source
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