Top 10 Reasons to Register for Winter Walk 2025!

Our Winter Walks are a ‘Call to Action’ that bring together housed and unhoused individuals to walk side-by-side, creating a united community committed to addressing homelessness. It's a day when everyone—regardless of where they sleep—comes together to raise awareness and demand change.

For 2025, we’ve organized our list of the Top 10 Reasons to Register for Winter Walk 2025!

10. January is “Dog Walking Month” 

Did you hear that January is "Dog Walking Month"?! Your pup can help you train for your upcoming Winter Walk Event!

Winter Walk Events are proud to be dog friendly, so anyone that registers can bring their furry friend along for the adventure! We have a special Doggy Registration for our four legged friends! 

9. Homelessness is Increasing 

2024 has revealed a staggering statistic in the fight against homelessness.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's annual assessment report, overall homelessness in America rose by 18% in 2024. The report found more than 770,000 people were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January.

This means more people experienced homelessness in the United States in 2024 than at any other time in the last two decades.

8. Our Goal is $10 million Raised for our Partners 

We are on a mission to increase the funds coming into our partners from our Winter Walk Events!

Together, we've raised more than $5 million for our partners via Winter Walk Events since our first Walk in 2017, and we have a goal to double that by 2026.

7. Homelessness Can Happen to Anyone   

59% of American workers are one paycheck away from homelessness, and 46% of unhoused people cite “job loss” as the reason for their homelessness.

6. Reducing Homelessness Reduces Healthcare Costs 

Providing housing and support to individuals experiencing homelessness can significantly reduce healthcare costs.

According to the National Institute on Health, providing permanent supportive housing to the homeless community saves taxpayers significant amounts of money! Healthcare costs are reduced by 59%, emergency department costs are decreased by 61%, and the number of general inpatient hospitalizations is decreased by 77%.

5. Vets Make Up 5% of the Total US Homeless Population  

Approximately 33,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, representing about 5% of the total US homeless population.

According to Veterans Affairs, the national snapshot of Veteran homelessness showed that the total number of Veterans who experienced homelessness was 32,882 – a decrease of 7.5% over January 2023. The estimated number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in America has declined by 55.6% since 2010.

While we love that the numbers are decreasing, we still have nearly 33,000 too many Veterans without a home in the country that they fought so fiercely to protect.

4. Families With Children Make Up About 30% Of The Total Homeless Population

Homelessness has surged by 18% this year in the U.S., driven by the affordable housing crisis, inflation, stagnant wages, and natural disasters, impacting communities nationwide. This alarming trend is highlighted by over 771,000 individuals experiencing homelessness as reported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The most affected group is families with children, which saw a staggering 39% increase, with nearly 150,000 children facing homelessness on a single night in 2024.

Children deserve to be safe and housed!

3. Housing Your Neighbors Improves Your Community

Addressing homelessness can reduce crime rates and improve community safety. When individuals have stable housing, they are less likely to engage in activities that can lead to legal issues.

Homelessness and incarceration in the U.S. are deeply interconnected, creating a devastating cycle that harms lives and drains public resources. Many individuals find themselves caught between jails and homelessness due to the criminalization of low-level "survival" crimes, compounded by barriers like criminal records that hinder access to employment and housing after release. Shockingly, formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. It's time for systemic change to break this cycle!

2. Homelessness Is A Race Issue

67% of unhoused people are non-white, despite representing 29% of the total US population.

The stark reality is that Black Americans are four times more likely to experience homelessness than their White counterparts.

Systemic racism continues to impact housing access, employment opportunities, and wealth disparities across racial groups, making it clear that the root causes of homelessness are deeply intertwined with racial inequity. It’s time to recognize and address these disparities together.

1. Ending Homelessness Is Within Our Reach - If We Come Together!

More than 50,000 people have participated in a Winter Walk so far. Join a community of people committed to ending homelessness and register for Winter Walk today!  Link here