US homelessness reaches unprecedented levels
The number of homeless individuals in the US has surged to an all-time high, sparking criticism that outdated data-collection techniques might be underreporting the true extent of the crisis. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
**Critics say inadequate recording methods may be understating the scale of the crisis**
The number of homeless individuals in the United States has reached a historic high since the federal government began tracking these figures in 2007. Data released this week reveals that nearly three quarters of a million people—771,000—are homeless in the country, representing an 18% increase compared to 2023. This significant rise marks the sharpest annual increase in decades.
The figure published by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Friday indicates that around 23 out of every 10,000 Americans are homeless. This surge follows a 12% rise in 2023, which the department linked to soaring rents and the end of pandemic relief measures.
Compounding the severe shortage of affordable housing across the nation are “rising inflation, stagnating wages among middle- and lower-income households, and the persisting effects of systemic racism,” as well as natural disasters and an influx of migrants lacking stable housing, according to HUD.
Median rent has surged by 20% in January 2024 compared to the same month three years earlier, as noted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in March.
HUD reports a 39% increase this year in the number of individuals in families with children relying on shelters or sleeping outside. This figure amounts to approximately 259,000 people, the highest number recorded since data collection began.
The report also highlights that nearly 150,000 children were homeless on the designated January night, representing a 33% increase from the prior year’s count. Conversely, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness has decreased by 8% since 2023.
These new homelessness figures are released alongside the Biden administration’s commitment to boost funding for affordable housing and expand services aimed at preventing homelessness. However, advocacy groups assert that more comprehensive reforms are necessary, including stronger tenant protections, rent controls, and an emphasis on mental health and addiction services.
The US Supreme Court ruled in June that cities are permitted to prohibit homeless residents from sleeping outdoors; subsequently, over 100 jurisdictions across the country have started to implement such measures, according to the Associated Press.
During his campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump frequently attributed high housing costs to illegal immigration, pledging that his proposal for “the largest deportation operation in American history” would lead to lower home prices. “Immigration is driving housing costs through the roof,” Trump stated at a September rally in Arizona, as reported by the New York Post.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
The number of homeless individuals in the United States has reached a historic high since the federal government began tracking these figures in 2007. Data released this week reveals that nearly three quarters of a million people—771,000—are homeless in the country, representing an 18% increase compared to 2023. This significant rise marks the sharpest annual increase in decades.
The figure published by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Friday indicates that around 23 out of every 10,000 Americans are homeless. This surge follows a 12% rise in 2023, which the department linked to soaring rents and the end of pandemic relief measures.
Compounding the severe shortage of affordable housing across the nation are “rising inflation, stagnating wages among middle- and lower-income households, and the persisting effects of systemic racism,” as well as natural disasters and an influx of migrants lacking stable housing, according to HUD.
Median rent has surged by 20% in January 2024 compared to the same month three years earlier, as noted by the National Low Income Housing Coalition in March.
HUD reports a 39% increase this year in the number of individuals in families with children relying on shelters or sleeping outside. This figure amounts to approximately 259,000 people, the highest number recorded since data collection began.
The report also highlights that nearly 150,000 children were homeless on the designated January night, representing a 33% increase from the prior year’s count. Conversely, the number of veterans experiencing homelessness has decreased by 8% since 2023.
These new homelessness figures are released alongside the Biden administration’s commitment to boost funding for affordable housing and expand services aimed at preventing homelessness. However, advocacy groups assert that more comprehensive reforms are necessary, including stronger tenant protections, rent controls, and an emphasis on mental health and addiction services.
The US Supreme Court ruled in June that cities are permitted to prohibit homeless residents from sleeping outdoors; subsequently, over 100 jurisdictions across the country have started to implement such measures, according to the Associated Press.
During his campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump frequently attributed high housing costs to illegal immigration, pledging that his proposal for “the largest deportation operation in American history” would lead to lower home prices. “Immigration is driving housing costs through the roof,” Trump stated at a September rally in Arizona, as reported by the New York Post.
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
