Disaggregating Trends In Homeless Subpopulations: Quantifying the effects of Latin American asylum seekers and the growth of West Coast unsheltered homelessness on spiking homeless estimates

Between January 2022 and January 2023, the estimated homelessness population in the United States increased 12% from 582,462 to 653,104. This is not only the largest increase in US homelessness on record in the new millennium, it also brings the highest estimated homeless population since 2007. In this work, we disaggregate this increase to the local level to discover the subpopulation trends it is composed of. Namely, this spike is composed of an influx of South and Central American asylum seekers arriving in New York City, Chicago, and Denver and the continuation of a 7 year growth trend in unsheltered homelessness along the West Coast. We recommend the clinics to expedite the work permit and moving process for asylum seekers, coordinated landlord outreach and moving events, and geographic redistribution of asylum seekers to counties with more shelter capacity.