BELLINGHAM, WA – (KGMI.com) The national homeless population has reached record numbers, increasing in population by 12% in the last year alone.

The point-in-time survey the Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD uses counts every person experiencing homelessness in the nation on one night in January.

HUD estimated over 653,000 people experienced homelessness in January 2023.

This is the highest count since the survey began in 2007.

The count encompasses people staying in emergency shelters, transitional housing, subsidized motel rooms or are shelter-less.

Whatcom County contributed to this survey and released their numbers back in June of this year, counting an all-time high.

Washington saw some of the largest homeless population numbers, holding more than half the total population along with California, New York and Florida.

HUD’s report says that the number of people actually experiencing homelessness could be much higher that reported.