According to federal officials on Friday, the shortage of affordable housing, disastrous natural catastrophes, and an inflow of migrants in some areas are the main causes of the 18.1% increase in homelessness in the United States this year, which has reached a new high.
According to a new report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, federally mandated tallies conducted nationwide on one night in January 2024 recorded more over 770,000 people as homeless.
Because it doesn’t include those who are staying with friends or family because they don’t have a place of their own, the estimate is likely to underestimate the number of homeless persons.
This hike follows a 12% increase in 2023 that HUD ascribed to the end of pandemic aid and rising rents. Those who were homeless for the first time in 2023 also contributed to the increase.
Due to the termination of numerous government initiatives, like as the eviction moratorium, vulnerable Americans have been disproportionately affected in the years after the pandemic.
According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, a record percentage of renters are cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing, as housing costs continue to rise.
The number of people who need help paying their rent has increased. In a post on the HUD data, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonprofit organization devoted to preventing and eliminating homelessness, stated that more people than ever before are experiencing homelessness for the first time.
The figures show that Black people are overrepresented among the homeless, accounting for 23 out of every 10,000 Americans.
HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman stated in a statement that no American should experience homelessness and that evidence-based initiatives to prevent and eradicate homelessness should continue to be prioritized.
The statement also noted that the report might not fully reflect current situations because it is based on data that was gathered about a year ago.
For instance, although migrant arrests under President Joe Biden hit all-time highs, reaching a peak of 250,000 in December 2024, illegal crossings at the US-Mexico border have declined this year.
A rise in family homelessness
Family homelessness, one of the sectors most impacted by the entrance of migrants in large cities, increased by about 40%, making it one of the most alarming trends.
In 13 migrant-impacted towns, such as Denver, Chicago, and New York City, family homelessness more than doubled, but in the remaining 373, it grew by less than 8%, according to HUD.
In 2024, there were about 150,000 homeless children on one night, a 33% rise over the previous year.
The number also rose as a result of disasters, especially the devastating Maui wildfire that occurred last year and was the deadliest in the US in over a century. Over 5,200 people were kept in emergency shelters in Hawaii on the night of the count.
According to a statement from Renee Willis, the incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, underfunding the safeguards and resources that assist individuals in locating and retaining safe, affordable housing has the terrible but expected result of increasing homelessness.
Advocates, experts, and those who have experienced homelessness have cautioned that as more individuals find it difficult to pay for exorbitant housing expenses, the number of homeless people keeps rising.
Bans on camping
The statistics also coincide with a growing number of localities adopting a strict approach to combating homelessness.
Communities, especially in Western states, have banned camping because they are angry over unclean and unsafe tent camps.
This comes after the Supreme Court ruled last year, 6-3, that prohibitions on sleeping outside do not violate the Eighth Amendment.
Proponents of homelessness said that criminalizing those who need a place to sleep would make homelessness a crime.
There was some positive news from the count: the number of homeless Veterans is still dropping. In 2024, the number of homeless Veterans decreased by 8% to 32,882. In 2024, the number of unsheltered veterans dropped even more, from 11% to 13,851.
According to a statement by Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “the decrease in veteran homelessness provides us with a clear roadmap for addressing homelessness on a larger scale.”
We can expand on this achievement and lower homelessness across the country with bipartisan support, sufficient budget, and astute policy solutions.
In order to solve the country’s housing affordability dilemma and guarantee that all Americans have access to secure, long-term housing, federal investments are essential.
Cities where homelessness is declining
Homeless populations have been successfully decreased in a number of major cities. The number of homeless people in Dallas, which attempted to reform its system, decreased by 16% between 2022 and 2024. Los Angeles’s unsheltered homelessness rate has dropped by 5% since 2023 as a result of more homeless housing.
The most homeless persons are still found in California, the most populated state in the union, followed by New York, Washington, Florida, and Massachusetts.
In stark contrast to the prosperity the United States has experienced for over a decade, the number of homeless people has increased dramatically during the past two years.
Referring back to the initial 2007 study, the United States made consistent strides toward lowering the number of homeless people for almost ten years, with the government concentrating especially on boosting funding for housing assistance for veterans.
In 2010, there were over 637,000 homeless people; by 2017, that number had dropped to about 554,000.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.