The U.S saw an 18% increase in homelessness this year, largely due to a lack of affordable housing and natural disasters, NBC News reported.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found that more than 770,000 people are homeless, or about 23 out of every 10,000 Americans. The number does not include those who are staying with friends or family because the lack their own home.
Veterans were the only group with a decrease in homelessness. From 2023 to 2024, homelessness among this group decreased 8%. Families had the largest increase in homelessness. As many as 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night this year, a 33% increase from last year.
The city of Los Angeles had a 5% decrease in homelessness. American Faith reported a draft budget analysis from Los Angeles city housing officials estimates that eliminating homelessness in the city would cost more than $20 billion over the next ten years.
“No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve,” said HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman. “While 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.”
Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said the increased rate of homelessness is “the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing.”
“As advocates, researchers, and people with lived experience have warned, the number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase as more people struggle to afford sky-high housing costs,” Willis continued.
