Population has some play however California has almost 12% of the population in the US and has almost 28% of all homeless. New York is 4th in population and is second in homelessness. They have less than 6% of the US population and have over 15% of the homeless in the country. Texas has almost 9% of the population and under 5% of the homeless.
Number 5, which you conveniently didn’t name is Massachusetts 15th in population. Number 6 is Washington 13th in population. Number 7 is Oregon, the 27th most populated.
Population does have an effect however policies have a lot more to do with controlling homelessness as proved by the numbers.
I was in Portland two months ago and they allow tents to be pitched on the sidewalks in the downtown area, then whe you go to residential areas they allow the tents on the sidewalks of private homes.
Zoning laws drive up housing prices as it limits where and how homes are built which drives up housing costs and push more and more people out into not being able to afford a homes. Red states tend to have fewer regulations thus easier and cheaper to build. The social programs in red states tend to require the recipients to work or contribute, which many don’t, so their benefits are more limited. Blue states try to accommodate the recipients with social programs that require little to nothing.