The extent of homelessness can be an indicator of a community's ability to provide stable jobs that pay a living wage as well as a measure of support for the unemployed and access to affordable housing and 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 is a marker of collaboration and its social support systems.

In 2017, Monroe County's point-in-time count reported 11 homeless people per 10,000 residents, slightly down from 11.5 in 2016. Since 2005, Monroe's rate has ranged from 8.0 to 13.4 and has been consistently lower than the nation and state. The rate for the entirety of Wayne, Ontario, Seneca and Yates counties increased significantly from 2016 to 2017.

2010 data were not available for Orleans. Data were only available for recent years for Monroe, Orleans, and Wayne counties. It is very difficult to obtain an exact count of homeless persons, due to transience and to limited resources for record-keeping. Comparable data presented for available counties are currently limited to point-in-time counts done on one night in January.