Homelessness in the United States increased in 2024, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
A one-night count carried out in January earlier this year showed that more than 770,000 people were either in shelters, temporary housing or had no shelter whatsoever. This is an 18% increase compared to data from the previous year and follows a 12% hike the year before.
It’s the highest figure since the government started carrying out annual surveys in 2007.
High rents are a big factor. Many people who managed to keep their homes during the pandemic through temporary aid have now been priced out. Shelters in several areas are full, and waitlists for affordable housing keep growing. However, HUD officials did note that rents “are flat or even down in many cities” since January.
Migration has also emerged as a significant driver. Thousands of asylum seekers have moved to some of the country’s largest cities like New York and Chicago. While some of these new arrivals have found temporary shelter, the influx contributed to rising homeless numbers. According to HUD’s press release, “Some communities reported data…that indicated the rise in overall homelessness was a result of their work to shelter a rising number of asylum seekers.”
Government officials say 13 major communities saw family homelessness more than double. However, in places that did not cite migration as a factor, family homelessness increased by a smaller amount.
Natural disasters also added to the homelessness problem. Wildfires in Maui last year were devastating — during the January count, officials said over 5,200 people were staying in emergency shelters in Hawaii.
One bright spot is the continuing reduction in veteran homelessness. The new report notes a drop of nearly 8% from 2023 to 2024, and a record low overall. HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said: “No American should face homelessness…While this data is nearly a year old, and no longer reflects the situation we are seeing, it is crucial that we focus on evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness. We know what works, and our success in reducing veteran homelessness by 55.2% since 2010 shows that.”
What’s the sentiment about this?
The homelessness situation in the US has drawn mixed reactions. There are some officials who insist on more investment in subsidized housing, whereas some argue that the focus should shift to substance treatment, mental health programs, and job training — addressing the “root problem” so to speak.
There’s also tension over local ordinances that ban sleeping in public spaces. Supporters of those bans say they improve safety. Opponents contend they criminalize people who have nowhere else to go.
The federal government has pledged to keep funding housing initiatives. It points to the success with veterans as proof that coordinated efforts can make a difference. Supporters of bigger housing subsidies often cite that success too, insisting more unified strategies could do the same for the broader population. Others question housing-first approaches though, stressing that the approach overlooks personal responsibility.