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.
The article from MSN discusses the reasons behind the record high homelessness in the U.S. in 2023. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the primary driver of this increase is the acute shortage of affordable housing, exacerbated by rising rents and stagnant wages. The data shows a 12% increase in homelessness from the previous year, with over 653,000 people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2023. This surge is attributed to the end of many emergency financial supports that were in place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had temporarily alleviated some financial pressures. Additionally, systemic issues like poverty, lack of access to healthcare, and the ongoing opioid crisis contribute to the problem. The article also highlights regional disparities, with cities like Los Angeles and New York seeing significant increases. Efforts to address this crisis include calls for more federal funding for housing programs, eviction prevention, and initiatives to increase the supply of affordable housing.
