The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States has reached a new record this year, a government report said Friday, with inflation and higher housing prices likely to be the cause.
An estimated 771,480 people became homeless in a single night in January 2024, an 18 percent increase from 2023, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said in an annual assessment.
This means that there are about 23 out of every 10,000 people in the country with the world’s largest economy.
The increase was driven by households feeling housing cost pressure, with the average rent for January 2024 set to be 20 percent higher than January 2021, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
In addition to housing costs, the HUD report identified “stagnant wages among middle- and low-income families, and the persistent effects of systemic racism” as other factors.
Other contributing issues include natural disasters that displaced people, increased immigration and the end of homelessness prevention programs started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
HUD agency head Adrienne Todman said in a statement, “Although this data is almost a year old, and no longer reflects the situation we are seeing, it is important that we continue to do what we can to prevent and end homelessness.” “Focus on evidence-based efforts.”
The report said nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness in a single night this year – a 33 per cent increase from 2023.
The age group seeing the largest increase in homelessness between 2023 and 2024 was children under 18.
People who identify as Black, African American or African are also over-represented among the homeless population, the report said.
While people who identify as Black make up 12 percent of the United States population, they make up 32 percent of those experiencing homelessness.
Households with children saw the largest one-year increase in homelessness, the report said, adding that migration “has had a particularly notable impact on family homelessness.” “
However, homelessness among veterans dropped to the lowest on record.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
