MANCHESTER, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Homelessness in New Hampshire surged by an unprecedented 52.1 percent in 2023, marking the highest percentage increase in the nation, according to a newly released report by the NH Coalition to End Homelessness (NHCEH).

The national average increase was significantly lower at 12 percent, placing a harsh spotlight on the state’s growing crisis.

The report, “The State of Homelessness in New Hampshire,” offers a sobering analysis of the state’s challenges, using data from both the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count and year-round Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS). The PIT Count, which tallies homelessness during a single 24-hour period each January, showed sharp increases across multiple demographics, particularly among families and youth.

“This year’s report, based on available data from 2023, shows that, sadly, the growth in homelessness in NH continues, despite the passion and hard work that homeless service providers and other advocates expend every day to stem this tide,” said Jennifer Chisholm, Executive Director of the NH Coalition to End Homelessness, in the release. “It will take a lot of continued work to reverse these trends, but we know that homelessness is a solvable issue when the systems addressing it have ample resources and support.”

Among the findings, homelessness among families rose nearly 50 percent, while the number of unhoused youth increased by nearly 40 percent, the release said. Children accounted for one in five individuals experiencing homelessness during the 2023 PIT Count, with four children counted as unsheltered. Meanwhile, chronic homelessness—defined as prolonged periods of homelessness paired with a disabling condition—has skyrocketed by more than 150 percent since 2019.

The report also highlights stark disparities along racial and ethnic lines. Black and African American residents are nearly four times more likely to experience homelessness than their proportion in the general population, while Hispanic and Latinx individuals face nearly double the risk. Additionally, for the first time, the report examines the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, confirming that this group experiences heightened vulnerability in the Granite State, mirroring national trends.

Not all the data was grim. Veteran homelessness in New Hampshire decreased by 21.3 percent suggesting that targeted interventions can yield results. But the overall picture remains troubling, with service providers and policymakers facing an uphill battle to reverse these trends.

This week, communities across New Hampshire will hold vigils for Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, commemorating those who died while unhoused in the past year. The vigils, held on the winter solstice, serve as a somber reminder of the human toll of homelessness.

“Although the current situation seems overwhelming, NHCEH holds high the torch of hope,” said Chisholm. “New Hampshire has made some extremely positive strides in the realms of housing and homelessness in recent years, upon which we as a state can continue to build.”