What States Help the Homeless the Most – Best States for Homeless

Homelessness is a serious problem throughout the United States; however, some states stand out for offering more robust support systems, better funding, and more effective programs. These states invest in housing, healthcare, and social services to help people leave the streets and rebuild their lives.

What States Help the Homeless the Most?

Connecticut, Illinois, North Dakota, Maryland, and New York are among the states that provide the strongest support to homeless individuals in the United States, offering robust housing programs, subsidies, and social services. These states consistently rank at the top of national rankings for homelessness assistance, with Connecticut leading the way thanks to significant reductions in the number of homeless individuals and its robust shelter networks.

Best States for Homeless People

Overall Rank*	State	Total Score	Shelters & Housing Support Rank	Homeless Youth Support Rank	Food & Health Support Rank
1	Connecticut	69.86	1	15	1
2	North Dakota	61.47	2	38	3
3	Maryland	61.04	5	16	7
4	Montana	56.68	33	4	13
5	Indiana	56.54	24	5	21
6	Minnesota	56.48	20	21	4
7	Pennsylvania	55.74	22	17	5
8	Louisiana	55.00	10	27	8
9	Michigan	54.72	3	50	17
10	Ohio	54.54	16	42	2
11	Illinois	54.32	4	22	32
12	New York	54.29	9	23	24
13	Wyoming	53.82	18	13	26
14	Maine	53.79	17	18	22
15	Oregon	53.06	40	2	19
16	Kentucky	53.03	28	10	11
17	Utah	52.58	30	11	12
18	Missouri	52.21	31	14	10
19	Massachusetts	52.17	15	24	23
20	Virginia	52.11	12	47	15
21	Delaware	51.76	11	20	37
22	California	51.68	38	1	30
23	Mississippi	51.06	6	26	35
24	Colorado	50.04	34	19	14
25	New Jersey	49.41	8	46	31
26	Nebraska	49.40	14	39	29
27	West Virginia	49.27	32	24	6
28	Hawaii	49.01	35	6	39
29	Washington	48.84	37	9	18
30	South Dakota	48.22	13	35	33
31	Wisconsin	48.01	7	49	40
32	Vermont	47.74	19	45	25
33	Rhode Island	46.93	23	44	20
34	Iowa	46.43	21	40	28
35	Alaska	45.82	36	36	8
36	Oklahoma	43.39	25	32	38
37	Texas	43.07	26	3	50
38	Kansas	42.97	27	34	34
39	New Hampshire	41.51	43	43	16
40	Arkansas	41.15	29	28	41
41	New Mexico	41.14	49	8	36
42	Florida	37.33	46	12	46
43	Idaho	36.95	48	48	27
44	Nevada	36.55	50	7	44
45	Arizona	34.75	47	31	42
46	North Carolina	34.31	41	41	45
47	Tennessee	33.84	45	30	43
48	Alabama	31.89	38	37	48
49	Georgia	30.89	44	33	47
50	South Carolina	29.99	42	29	49

Top States Helping the Homeless

Connecticut: Leads the list with a score of 68.2 for homelessness assistance, recording a 23.6% decrease in its homeless population between 2018 and 2019. It features robust subsidized housing programs and shelter networks.

Illinois: Scored 63.15, boasting extensive networks of urban shelters and access to healthcare services.

North Dakota: Scored 61.51; stands out for its assistance efforts in rural areas and its supportive housing programs.

Maryland: Scored 59.29; demonstrates strong integration between healthcare and housing services.

New York: Scored 56.69; features a large-scale shelter system and a high number of subsidized housing units (30 per 1,000 residents).

Other States with Strong Housing Programs

Massachusetts: High availability of subsidized housing (28 units per 1,000 residents).

Minnesota: Strong community-based housing initiatives.

Oregon: Detailed reporting and community partnerships.

California: Despite its high rates of homelessness, it makes significant investments in grants and supportive housing programs.

Washington: Provides stipends and community support to workers who provide services to people experiencing homelessness.

Summury

In summary, Connecticut, Illinois, North Dakota, Maryland, and New York stand out nationally, while California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington present robust initiatives, albeit with regional challenges. These states combine housing subsidies, shelter networks, and access to healthcare to provide the most comprehensive support to people experiencing homelessness.