Oregon Ranks Second in Unsheltered Homelessness, US Numbers Soar

Oregon has the second-highest rate of unsheltered homeless people in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The department's report revealed that 653,100 Americans were experiencing homelessness during a single night in January 2023, the highest recorded number since 2007. The increase in overall homelessness is attributed to the rise in Americans becoming homeless for the first time, likely due to changes in the rental housing market and the winding down of pandemic protections. Oregon had 20,142 people experiencing homelessness, with 64.6% being unsheltered, making it the leading state for families experiencing homelessness.