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Homelessness in the US recently saw a rapid increase in 2024. According to the annual federal report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of homeless people has increased by 18% from last year. While the count has been increasing every year, it reached its maximum number in 2024.
For the unversed, the department began making these annual reports in 2007 and has released one each year except from 2021 to 2022 when they could not keep a count due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the report, over 770,000 people in the US have been living either in shelters or outside in January. The survey included all cities in the US.
Jeff Olivet, former executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, highlighted that the country is still recovering from the pandemic. He said,
"A lot of families, a lot of households, a lot of individuals are still struggling. I think we're still in — for deeply poor people — a real recovery from the pandemic."
As per the HUD report, the major reason behind this is the shortage of affordable housing. As house rents have been increasing, so has the number of people without homes. Another reason behind the increasing number of homeless people in the US is the sudden increase in refugees who are fleeing their home countries and seeking shelter in the US.
Family homelessness reportedly doubled in 13 communities as they were widely affected by an increased number of migrants. Olivet further mentioned how the number did not increase during the pandemic as the government helped people with housing facilities. However, as the help ended, the price of housing and food increased to manifolds.
Which US cities saw a decline in homelessness?
The report by HUD has confirmed that a few cities in the country saw a decline in the number of homeless people in shelters since January. These cities are Chicago, Denver, and New York which saw a sharp decline in the numbers.
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The decline in numbers is a result of President Joe Biden limiting asylum claims in June and putting a hold on illegal border crossings. Moreover, a slowed spike in rent also helped these cities reduce homelessness numbers in several other cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas, and Phoenix.
Olivet also added that investing in the right way to get people off the streets can help in bringing these numbers down.
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