HIGHLIGHTS
- We need reliable data if we’re going to end homelessness in the U.S.
- Every year, Abt collects data for—and refines—HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress.
- The national data and technical standards developed for AHAR help shape national, state and local housing solutions.
The Challenge
To successfully address homelessness in the U.S., we need to understand the extent of the challenge at local, state levels.
The Approach
Since 2002, Abt has worked with the Department of Housing and Urban Development and local Continuums of Care (CoCs) to collect data and refine the processes for the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR). The AHAR uses data from Community Point-in-Time (PIT) counts of people experiencing homelessness and from local Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). The PIT data, released in part 1, estimate the number of people who experienced homelessness on a single night in January. The HMIS data in part 2 provide a year-long overview of the people who were in a homeless shelter at some time during the year.
The Results
Under the initial contract, Abt developed national data and technical standards for local HMIS and identified a nationally representative sample of communities to participate. Under later contracts, Abt:
- Updated the national data and technical standards for HMIS.
- Collected and analyzed data from about 400 communities nationwide.
- Produced two separate AHAR volumes each year, providing analyses of trend information at the national, state, and local levels.
Learn more:
- 2022 Annual Estimates of Sheltered Homelessness in the United States - AHAR Pt 2 2022
- Homelessness Up Across All Groups, Underscoring Lack of Affordable Housing and Loss of COVID-Era Protections - AHAR Pt 1 2023
- Who’s Experiencing Homelessness? The List Is Growing. - AHAR Pt 2 2021
- HUD Annual Report to Congress: Slight Increase in Homelessness in 2022 Abt’s Analysis Finds Overrepresentation by Race Persists - AHAR Pt 1 2022
- HUD Report to Congress Finds Fewer Families in Shelters, Suggesting Stronger Social Safety Net Is Working - AHAR 2021
- HUD Report to Congress: Homelessness Increased for Fourth Year In a Row; Racial Inequities Persist - AHAR 2020
- HUD Annual Report: Decrease in Homeless Families and Veterans Can't Halt Increase in Total Year-Over-Year Homelessness - AHAR 2019
- New Annual Report From HUD Provides Insight Into Homelessness in U.S. - AHAR 2018