Close to 2.5 million children experienced homelessness in the U.S. in 2013, according to America’s Youngest Outcasts. The report looks at child homelessness nationally and in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“Child homelessness has reached epidemic proportions in America,” said Dr. Carmela DeCandia, Director of The National Center on Family Homelessness at American Institutes for Research (AIR), which prepared the report. “Children are homeless tonight in every city, county and state—in every part of our nation.”

From 2012 to 2013, the number of children experiencing homelessness annually in the U.S. increased by 8 percent nationally and increased in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The states are ranked in the report using posite of four domains: (1) extent of child homelessness; (2) well-being of the children; (3) risk for family homelessness; and (4) policy response. All states have children who are homeless.

Top and bottom ranked states are:

Top Ranked

1. Minnesota

2. Nebraska

3. Massachusetts

4. Iowa

5. New Jersey

6. Vermont

7. New Hampshire

8. Pennsylvania

9. Hawaii

10. Maine

Bottom Ranked

42. Kentucky

43. Oklahoma

44. Nevada

45. Arizona

46. New Mexico

47. Arkansas

48. California

49. Mississippi

50. Alabama

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