A new report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows homelessness remained a major issue across the country in 2025, while Ohio’s latest housing needs assessment points to continued pressure on families and individuals struggling with housing costs.

According to HUD’s 2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress, 745,652 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2025. HUD reported that the number was down 3 percent from 2024, but still up 27 percent compared to 2013.

The report also found that 266,320 people were living unsheltered on a single night in January 2025.

In Ohio, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency’s Fiscal Year 2026 Housing Needs Assessment shows more than 1.2 million Ohioans live in households spending at least half of their income on housing. The agency says that level of housing cost burden can put residents at risk of foreclosure or eviction.

The Ohio report also found that 31,883 students in public and community schools lacked a fixed, regular, and adequate place to sleep during the 2023-2024 school year.

On a single night in January 2024, 11,759 people were counted statewide as living in temporary housing, homeless shelters, or on the streets. The Ohio Housing Finance Agency says that was a 14 percent increase from 2019 and the highest point-in-time count of homeless Ohioans in a decade.

The state assessment also pointed to a shortage of shelter beds for adults. In January 2024, Ohio counted 8,338 homeless individuals age 18 or older, while only 5,701 year-round shelter beds were available for them.

Officials noted that housing instability can be difficult to fully measure, especially for people temporarily staying with friends or family, meaning the numbers may not reflect the full scope of housing insecurity in the state.

HUD REPORT ---CLICK HERE
OHIO REPORT --- CLICK HERE