Homelessness in the US Soars by 12% to Record High Amid Rising Rents and Pandemic Aid Cutbacks

Homelessness rose 12% in the US, hitting its highest level. Federal authorities said Friday that rising rents and reduced coronavirus pandemic funding have made housing unaffordable for many Americans.

Homeless man sleeping (Photo: UCSF)

US Homelessness Soars to Highest Level Since 2007, Surpassing 650,000

The January point-in-time survey identified 653,000 homeless Americans, the most since 2007. This is a 70,650-person increase over the previous year. Data shows many homeless people were first-time homeless. After dropping in 2012, family homelessness is growing. Advocates and HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge emphasize the need for proven homelessness prevention and response methods. To minimize homelessness from 2010 to 2017, the U.S. focused on veteran housing.

US homelessness reached 653,000, the most since the 2007 point-in-time survey. This is 70,650 more than the previous year. The cost of living and lack of affordable housing are driving the surge, putting many Americans in danger of homelessness. Government actions kept homelessness steady throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, but the surge underlines housing affordability difficulties. About 11% of adults, 7.4% of veterans, and 15.5% of families with children became homeless. Blacks, 13% of the U.S. population, made up 37% of the homeless, while Hispanics, 19%, made up 33%. More than 25% of the homeless were 54+. HUD says rents climbed twice as quickly in 2022, but the trend has halted since January. HUD said over half the homeless resided in California, New York, Florida, and Washington.

To reduce homelessness, President Biden’s budget includes guaranteed vouchers for low-income veterans and teenage foster youth. New York’s homeless rate is twice the national rate, while California’s 28% climbed slightly. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, and New York had the highest percentage increases in homelessness, with 41 states and DC rising and nine states declining.

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Pandemic-Era Safeguards Removal and Influx of Asylum Seekers Contribute to NYC’s Homelessness Surge

The unexpected influx of asylum seekers from southern U.S. border states during the summer of 2022 contributed to homelessness in New York City when pandemic-era restrictions were removed. More than 150,000 migrants have entered the city’s homeless shelters, overcrowding them. Mayor Eric Adams has requested federal assistance to fund migrants’ billion-dollar housing costs in the coming years.

Despite challenges, HUD’s homelessness statistics include migrants and asylum seekers. Homelessness in Chattanooga, Tennessee, dropped 49% by swiftly connecting people to permanent homes and boosting prevention. Dallas, Newark, and Essex County, New Jersey, also reported drops, while Houston cleared several homeless encampments, lowering unsheltered homelessness by 17%. Tucson and San Jose were praised for their progress.

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