744,313 people homeless in US: study

The figure is calculated in Jan 2005 and only represents a snapshot of the homelessness problem in this country.

There are 744,313 homeless in the United States, according to the first nationwide population estimate in a decade, published by the US National Alliance to End Homelessness.

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The figure was calculated in January 2005 and only represents a snapshot of the homelessness problem in this country, which is likely much bigger, the advocacy group said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The reality is that the homeless population is quite fluid -- people move in and out of homelessness and most are homeless for short periods of time," it said. "Many more people experience homelessness over the course of the year."

The head counting found 56 per cent of homeless in the United States slept in shelters or transitional housing, while 44 per cent lived in the streets.

Fifty-nine per cent of them were single adults and 41 per cent were vagabonds living in families. In total, almost 100,000 destitute families were counted.

Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Rhode Island and all three Pacific Coast states -- Washington, Oregon and California -- had the highest ratio of homeless people per capita.

Past studies had counted between 250,000 to three million homeless Americans.