According to a new study, the state of Mississippi has the No. 1 lowest rate of homelessness.
The study, which was released by security.org, shows that Mississippi has a rate of 37 homeless people per every 100,000 residents—well below the national average of 174 per every 100,000.
While the country as a whole unfortunately saw an increase in homelessness for the fourth consecutive year, Mississippi saw a seven percent annual decrease.
Some other key findings:
- From 2016-2020, the number of homeless people in the U.S. has gone up by about six percent. Over the course of the last 10 years, the nation’s overall homelessness rate has declined by about 12 percent.
- Children account for 18 percent of homeless people—down from 23 percent a decade ago.
- Top 5: Washington, D.C., New York, Hawaii, California, Oregon; Bottom 5: Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, North Dakota.
The study derived from both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2020 Point in Time homelessness count, as well as recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau. To view it in its entirety, click here.