The Department of Housing and Urban Development said Friday that its January count found 698,425 people experiencing homelessness nationwide. The agency reported a 6.3% decline from the previous year.
The figure comes from the Point-in-Time count, which estimates how many people are experiencing homelessness on a single night. It provides a snapshot for comparison with past counts. People who lose housing at other times of the year may never appear in that snapshot.
The department pointed to the administration’s policy changes in its announcement. The national count does not isolate the effect of any one policy. Local results and data on how long people remain housed can help explain where the decline occurred and whether it lasts.