The United States experienced an 18.1% increase in homelessness in 2024, largely attributed to the scarcity of affordable housing, natural disasters, and an influx of migrants in various regions.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that over 770,000 people were counted as homeless, with an alarming overrepresentation of Black individuals among the homeless demographic.
The big picture: One of the most concerning trends was the nearly 40% rise in family homelessness, particularly affecting cities impacted by migrant arrivals, such as Denver, Chicago, and New York City.
- The data revealed a distressing figure of close to 150,000 children experiencing homelessness in 2024, marking a 33% increase from the previous year.
Driving the news: Rising rents, the termination of pandemic assistance, and destructive events like the Maui wildfire significantly fueled the homelessness surge.
- Disasters like the Maui wildfire forced over 5,200 individuals into emergency shelters in Hawaii, underscoring the destabilizing impact of such incidents on housing security.
State of play: Some communities, primarily in Western states, have taken strict measures against homelessness, enforcing camping bans due to concerns over safety and cleanliness.
- Despite opposition from homeless advocates citing constitutional violations and the criminalization of homelessness, communities have been firm in their approach.
- Notably, homelessness among veterans continued to decline, offering a positive outlook amidst the overall homelessness surge.
