In the United States, an estimated 3.5 million young people between ages 18 and 25 experience homelessness each year, part of a total of about 4.2 million youth and young adults ages 13–25 who experience some form of homelessness annually.

About 20 percent of young adults who age out of foster care become homeless immediately upon reaching age 18, and approximately 40 percent of young adults exiting foster care face housing insecurity within the first two years after leaving care.

Every recent Point-In-Time count shows that homelessness is getting worse year after year, especially since the pandemic.

Here is the trend in plain language you can use on your website:

In 2020, about 580,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in the United States.

By 2023, that number had risen to more than 650,000 people.

In 2024, homelessness reached a record high of approximately 771,000 people on a single January night.

That means in just four years, the homelessness crisis grew by nearly 200,000 additional people.

This is why organizations like Straight Arrow Horizons are not optional anymore — they are essential infrastructure in a system that is breaking under rising housing costs, limited affordable housing, and the collapse of safety nets for young adults aging out of foster care.

Straight Arrow Horizons collaborates with social workers, child welfare agencies and community organizations. We are committed to ensuring that young adults transitioning out of foster care have a place to go. If you’re seeking a stable, supportive housing placement for a youth, we’re here to help.