The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has reported a 12% rise in homelessness nationwide, marking the highest number of people without homes since the annual count began in 2007. The January survey revealed about 653,000 people are living without stable shelter, spotlighting the acute challenge of homelessness amid escalating housing costs and the waning of pandemic assistance.
Black, African, Indigenous, and Hispanic or Latino individuals are disproportionately affected, with their representation among the homeless population far exceeding their share of the overall U.S. population. Notably, the Black community, making up 13% of the population, accounts for 37% of all homeless individuals and half of those in homeless families with children. Meanwhile, the Hispanic and Latino population saw a significant numerical increase in homelessness, rising by 28% from the previous year.
Family homelessness, which had been on a decline since 2012, saw a reversal with a 16% increase, suggesting that the issue is expanding beyond individual circumstances to affect larger household units. This alarming trend includes a notable 16% rise in families with children, who now constitute roughly 28% of the homeless population. Additionally, unaccompanied youth under the age of 25 make up 22% of the homeless demographic.
Men are particularly affected, representing 61% of the homeless population and approximately 90% of homeless veterans. These figures emerge from the HUD’s point-in-time count, a snapshot taken over the last ten days of January each year, which this year indicated a significant diminution of the pandemic’s impact on shelter use.
The surge in homelessness has been linked to the soaring rental market and the culmination of coronavirus pandemic aid, such as emergency rental assistance and eviction protection. These safety net programs had provided a temporary buffer that prevented a spike in homelessness, but their expiration has left many Americans vulnerable.
HUD points out that rental housing conditions were “extraordinarily challenging” in 2022, with rents rising at more than double the rate of recent years. However, some relief has been seen since the January count, which may be reflected in future surveys.
Across the country, more than half of all homeless individuals are concentrated in four states: California, New York, Florida, and Washington, with California alone accounting for about 28% of the nation’s homeless. New York experienced a hike in homelessness more than three times the national rate.
Local governments are taking various approaches to address the crisis. Some cities, like Chattanooga, Tennessee, have seen a substantial reduction in homelessness, achieving a 49% drop from the previous year by rapidly connecting people to permanent housing and preventing homelessness. Other areas, such as Dallas, Newark, Essex County, and Houston, have also reported decreases.
The federal response includes a request in President Joe Biden’s budget for guaranteed vouchers for low-income veterans and youths aging out of foster care, among other investments aimed at reducing homelessness. In addition to financial support, the administration is identifying potential federal land and buildings that could be repurposed for migrant shelters and services, as a response to the additional pressures from international migrants arriving in cities like New York.
As the nation braces for the upcoming annual homeless count, the figures stand as a stark reminder of the ongoing housing crisis and the urgency for comprehensive policies to ensure stable housing for all Americans.
