The United States saw an unprecedented rise in homelessness in 2024, with an 18% spike marking the largest recorded annual increase, largely due to escalating housing costs and a surge of migrants.
This trend, which has taken hold during Joe Biden's time in the White House, has raised significant concerns regarding its effect on families and children, particularly in major metropolitan areas, as Breitbart reports.
As reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the year 2024 witnessed alarming statistics in homelessness, reaching 770,000 individuals. This sharp increase is noteworthy, considering homelessness had declined from 637,000 in 2010 to 554,000 in 2017.
The trend in 2024 follows a 12% rise in homelessness during the previous year. This consistent upward track highlights the growing challenge of addressing homelessness in the nation. The current figures represent the most significant rise since the Point-in-Time (PIT) count started in 2007. HUD attributes a substantial portion of this increase to several key factors impacting various communities across the country.
Migration has played a pivotal role in the surge of family homelessness, which saw a 39% uptick between 2023 and 2024. Particularly in cities significantly affected by migration like Denver, Chicago, and New York City, family homelessness has more than doubled. In contrast, other communities reported lesser hikes, with family homelessness increasing by less than 8%. This disparity underscores the varying impact of migration and housing costs on different regions.
Nearly 150,000 children found themselves without homes for at least one night in 2024. This represents a 33% increase compared to the previous year, indicating a distressing rise in child homelessness.
The escalating issue highlights the challenge of caring for the nation’s most vulnerable populations, with pronounced increases among children and families. As housing and migration pressures grow, families bear the brunt of these challenges more acutely than other groups.
Amid these rising challenges, efforts have been made to bolster housing options. HUD reported the addition of 435,000 new rental units in the first nine months of 2024, with over 120,000 units becoming available each quarter. Despite these efforts, the PIT count was conducted after substantial rent increases, driven by the pandemic and historical under-building of housing. These circumstances have created a complex environment for resolving the homelessness crisis.
Reports submitted to HUD reveal that some communities attributed the homelessness increase to the intake of asylum seekers. The agency noted that the expansion in homelessness categories has been especially steep for children and families.
The staggering statistics not only raise concerns about immediate impacts but also about long-term consequences for shelter and welfare systems.
On a more positive note, rental prices have finally started to stabilize or decrease in many urban areas since the beginning of 2024. This development presents a silver lining in an otherwise grim scenario for housing affordability and availability. The decline in rental costs might offer some respite for communities severely impacted by the housing crisis over the last few years.
The data highlights the pressing need for comprehensive strategies to address both the immediate and underlying causes of homelessness. Policies focusing on affordable housing, effective integration of migrants, and support for families could be crucial. HUD and other agencies are tasked with responding to these complex challenges while balancing immediate needs with sustainable, long-term solutions.
As the nation grapples with this unprecedented increase in homelessness, the need for collaborative efforts involving federal, state, and local governments has never been more critical. Understanding the multifaceted nature of this crisis will be key to implementing effective solutions.
