What does this measure?

The prevalence of homelessness, expressed as a measure of homeless persons per 10,000 residents.

Why is this important?

The prevalence of homelessness can be an indicator of a community's ability to provide stable jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for the unemployed, affordable housing and accessible health care. Homelessness is related to larger issues such as poverty, employment, mental health, substance abuse, and family violence. The way a community cares for its more vulnerable citizens can also be a marker of collaboration and social support systems.

How is our county doing?

Homelessness data for Essex County is no longer reported separately and is now included in the statewide rate, which was 41 per 10,000 people in 2024, an increase from 26 in 2020.

Lynn's data is collected separately, and its rate of homelessness was 106 per 10,000 residents in 2024, a slight increase from 103 in 2020 and a significant increase from 26 in 2007. Data for Lawrence is not available separately, but instead included in the state rate.

Notes about the data

Figures represent point-in-time counts. It is very difficult to obtain an exact count of homeless persons, due to transience and limited resources for record-keeping.