Z59.02 Unsheltered homelessness
The ICD-10-CM code for Unsheltered homelessness is Z59.02 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.
Classification
- Section
- Z55-Z65: Persons with potential health hazards related to socioeconomic and psychosocial circumstances (Z55-Z65)
- Category Z59
- 33 codes (25 billable)
- FY2026 Status
- Stable since FY2024
Also Known As
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to Z59.02:
- Lives in a homeless encampment
- Residing › in place not meant for human habitation (abandoned building) (car) (park) (sidewalk)
- Homelessness › unsheltered
- Residing › on the street
- Lack of › shelter
- Person (with) › living (in) › without › shelter
Inclusion Terms
- Lives in a homeless encampment
- Residing in place not meant for human habitation such as: abandoned buildings, cars, parks, sidewalk
- Residing on the street
U.S. Hospital Utilization
- An estimated 77,790 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included Z59.02 among the documented diagnoses.
Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.
Official Coding Guidelines
External cause of morbidity and Z codes; assign all needed codesbetween healthcare facilities, or provide additional information relevant to a patient encounter. The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting identify which codes maybe assigned as principal or first-listed diagnosis only, secondary diagnosis only, or principal/first-listed or secondary (depending on the circumstances). Possible applicable Z codes include: Z59.0-, Homelessness Z59.1, Inadequate housing Z59.5, Extreme poverty Z75.1, Person awaiting admission to adequate facility elsewhere Z75.3, Unavailability and inaccessibility of health-care facilities Z75.4, Unavailability and inaccessibility of other helping agencies Z76.2, Encounter for health supervision and care of other healthy infant and child Z99.12, Encounter for respirator [ventilator] dependence during power failure The external cause of morbidity codes and the Z codes listed above are not an all-inclusive list. Other codes may be applicable to the encounter based upon the documentation. Assign as many codes as necessary to fully explain each healthcare encounter. Since patient history information may be very limited, use any available documentation to assign the appropriate external cause of morbidity and Z codes.
Homelessness supports Z59.0- assignmentindicating the patient is experiencing homelessness would support assignment of a code from subcategory Z59.0-, Homelessness.
Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026