The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States reached a new record this year, with inflation and rising housing prices among likely factors, a government report said Friday.
An estimated 771,480 people were homeless on a single night in January 2024, an 18 percent increase from 2023, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in an annual assessment.
This translates to about 23 out of every 10,000 people in the country, home to the world’s largest economy.
The rise came as families felt the pressure on housing costs, with the average rent for January 2024 higher than it was in January 2021, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Aside from housing costs, the HUD report cited “stagnant wages among middle- and low-income families, and the persistent effects of systemic racism” as other factors.
Other contributing issues included natural disasters that displaced people, increased migration, and the end of homelessness prevention programs introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Although this data is nearly a year old and no longer reflects the situation we are seeing, it is critical that we focus on evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness,” HUD Chief Adrienne Todman said in a statement.
The report stated that nearly 150,000 children were exposed to homelessness in one night this year, an increase of 33 percent compared to 2023.
Children under 18 were the age group that saw the largest increase in homelessness between 2023 and 2024.
Individuals who identify as Black, African American or African still represent a significant percentage among the homeless population as well, the report said.
While people who identify as Black make up 12% of the U.S. population, they make up 32% of people experiencing homelessness.
People living in families with children saw the largest rise in homelessness in a single year, the report said, adding that migration had a “particularly notable impact on family homelessness.”
However, homelessness among veterans has fallen to the lowest number on record.
By/aha
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