# Homelessness dips nationally but rises in Lincoln, Nebraska  
**Published:** 2026-06-06T09:15:36.000Z  
**Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/06/repub/year-over-year-homelessness-declines/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/homelessness-dips-nationally-but-rises-in-lincoln-nebraska

The United States saw a slight year-over-year decline in homelessness in January 2025, but [the improvement masks regional disparities and a more complex picture locally](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/06/repub/year-over-year-homelessness-declines/), where Lincoln has experienced a concerning recent uptick despite years of progress.

[The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development counted 745,652 homeless people during its latest point-in-time estimate](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf), down 3% from the year before. The federal count was conducted before the Trump administration announced a shift toward transitional housing with work and addiction treatment requirements.

Nationally, the decrease was driven largely by a 4% decline in emergency shelter occupancy and a 3% drop in unsheltered homelessness. However, homelessness increased in 28 states. The Trump administration noted that the overall homeless population has surged 27% since 2013, arguing that housing-first policies pursued during that period have failed.

In Lincoln, the picture looks different. [After a steady decline from 2012 to 2023, homelessness in the city has increased over the past two years, with 542 people counted homeless in January 2025](https://www.1011now.com/2025/09/15/researchers-find-uptick-homelessness-following-decade-long-decline/), up from 501 the previous year. [Research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Center on Children, Families, and the Law indicates homelessness rose from 320 in 2021 to 542 in 2025](https://www.nebraskanewsservice.net/news/local-organizations-assist-peoples-city-mission-during-winter-months/article_7ae63874-41c8-4620-a4a5-1c80eba7078d.html).

[Experts attribute the recent Lincoln increase to the loss of rental assistance funding following pandemic-era programs and rising housing costs that have outpaced wage growth](https://www.1011now.com/2025/09/15/researchers-find-uptick-homelessness-following-decade-long-decline/). [Service providers report rising demand for meals and shelter across Nebraska, straining their services](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-hunger-relief-homeless-service-providers-report-rising-demand/).

The strain is visible at local shelters. [The People's City Mission, designed for 250 people, regularly hosted 400 residents before winter's coldest nights and reached 443 in January](https://www.nebraskanewsservice.net/news/local-organizations-assist-peoples-city-mission-during-winter-months/article_7ae63874-41c8-4620-a4a5-1c80eba7078d.html). Community leaders are working on solutions, including planning new shelter facilities to address the capacity crisis.

Nationally, North Carolina saw the largest state increase following Hurricane Helene, while Hawaii and Illinois posted the steepest declines. Despite the national decrease, homelessness remains near record levels, with advocates and policymakers debating the most effective approaches to address the crisis.

## Sources

- [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/06/repub/year-over-year-homelessness-declines/)
- [HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment Report 2025](https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2025-AHAR-Part-1.pdf)
- [KOLN/Lincoln homelessness uptick after decade-long decline](https://www.1011now.com/2025/09/15/researchers-find-uptick-homelessness-following-decade-long-decline/)
- [Nebraska News Service - People's City Mission homelessness data](https://www.nebraskanewsservice.net/news/local-organizations-assist-peoples-city-mission-during-winter-months/article_7ae63874-41c8-4620-a4a5-1c80eba7078d.html)
- [Nebraska Public Media - Rising demand for homeless services](https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/nebraska-hunger-relief-homeless-service-providers-report-rising-demand/)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/06/repub/year-over-year-homelessness-declines/.