HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A new federal report says Connecticut experienced a 17.4 percent increase in homelessness one night in January compared to the previous year.

Connecticut's Department of Housing says the uptick is mostly due to large numbers of Hurricane Maria evacuees.

The U.S. Housing and Urban Development's annual assessment to Congress, released Monday, says 3,976 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2018. Most were in emergency shelters or transitional housing. Homelessness experienced by families with children increased 41 percent.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy touts his administration's efforts to end homelessness. Last week, he announced 280 families were matched with housing during the past three months as part of a campaign to find homes.

Malloy predicts youth and family homelessness in Connecticut will end by the close of 2020.

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