Minnesota Homelessness Statistics: What the Numbers Show
Minnesota experienced 8,392 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2025, reflecting an 8.8% decrease compared to the prior year. While this represents progress, the challenge remains significant across the state.
Homelessness in Minnesota rose 10% from 2023 to 2024, while the national average increased about 18%, suggesting Minnesota’s efforts are gaining ground. However, the composition of homelessness is shifting in concerning ways.
Who Is Experiencing Homelessness in Minnesota?
- 4,188 people in families with children
- 2,055 chronically homeless individuals
- 1,104 adults aged 55 and older
- 299 veterans
23% of people experiencing homelessness are unsheltered, living in places not meant for human habitation, while 77% are sheltered. Native American, Black, and Latino Minnesotans are 31, 11 and 8 times, respectively, more likely to experience homelessness than white Minnesotans—a stark reminder that homelessness is not randomly distributed.
Hennepin County’s Comprehensive Approach
The Hennepin County Point in Time (PIT) Count reported that the county found about 3,370 people staying in shelters and about 500 experiencing homelessness in 2024. Despite these numbers, Hennepin County is taking bold steps to address the crisis.
Key Achievements and Milestones
- In 2024, Hennepin County was able to declare achieving functional zero for veteran homelessness—a remarkable achievement through focused outreach and housing efforts.
- County staff and partners have helped transition 1,628 people who previously were experiencing chronic homelessness into stable housing, with 93% of them not returning to homelessness as of January 2024.
- The Homeless to Housing program has surpassed over 2,000 people housed.
Major Programs and Initiatives
The county invested $191 million of COVID stimulus dollars to expand services, including a $98 million investment to create 15,000 supportive housing units. In fiscal year 2024, the community was awarded $20,493,890 in homeless assistance funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Continuum of Care (CoC) program, representing a significant increase of more than $2.5 million from the previous year.
Outreach and Early Intervention
Outreach workers in the Homeless to Housing program provide a crucial gateway to services, with the program launched in November 2022 including 58 outreach workers, four managers, and a dedicated case worker, all focused on helping individuals transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Streets to Housing works with single adults, youth, and families who are living outside, in their vehicles, or other places unsheltered, providing trauma-informed, housing-focused services that reduce barriers and identify safe, appropriate alternatives to living outside.
Eviction Prevention
Adult Representation Services (ARS) is a program in Hennepin County that helps people avoid becoming homeless by preventing evictions. Tenant Resource Connection (TRC) supports Hennepin County residents who are at risk of evictions or homelessness, with a goal to help people avoid the “service runaround” that sometimes comes with the need to access multiple community resources.
How to Get Help in Hennepin County
If you or someone you know needs housing assistance or emergency shelter, Hennepin County offers several entry points to support.
Emergency Shelter
- Call Hennepin Shelter Hotline at 612-204-8200 to find emergency shelter. Hours are Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday – Sunday and holidays: 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Callers outside of these hours will be directed to United Way’s 2-1-1.
- If you’re fleeing domestic violence, have been sexually assaulted or exploited, and/or trafficked, call or text Day One Services at 866-223-1111 or text 612-399-9995. Advocates are available 24/7.
Housing Assistance Programs
- Homeless to Housing program: Hennepin County residents who are experiencing homelessness can receive housing case management assistance through the Homeless to Housing program, which has solutions to homelessness and tools to help people find and sustain housing. Contact: H2h@hennepin.us for general contact, H2h.youth@hennepin.us for youth (18-24), or H2h.veterans@hennepin.us for veterans.
- Streets to Housing: The Streets to Housing team serves single adults, youth, and families in Hennepin County with trauma-informed, housing-focused services that reduce barriers to housing. Contact: streets.to.housing@hennepin.us.
- School to Housing program: If your housing is temporary or uncertain, families in the Brooklyn Center, Osseo, Bloomington, Robbinsdale, Richfield, Hopkins, Eden Prairie and Intermediate 287 school districts may be eligible.
For more information about housing resources, financial assistance, and supportive services available throughout the metro area, visit Hues Hope.
A Path Forward
Hennepin County’s multifaceted approach—combining emergency shelter, housing-focused case management, eviction prevention, and long-term supportive housing—demonstrates that homelessness can be addressed when resources and commitment align. While challenges remain, the progress made in recent years shows that when we invest in people and housing, lives change. If you’re facing housing instability or homelessness, reaching out for help is the first step toward stability.
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