A recent HUD report revealed an 18% surge in homelessness across the United States in 2024, impacting over 770,000 individuals. The report, based on a point-in-time count from January 2024, attributes the increase to several factors, including a rise in asylum seekers, the ongoing challenge of affordable housing availability, and the effects of natural disasters like the Maui wildfires.
The influx of asylum seekers significantly impacted family homelessness, which saw a dramatic 39% increase. In communities reporting effects from migration, family homelessness more than doubled. However, the HUD notes that rental costs have stabilized since the January 2024 count, with a substantial addition of new rental units in the first three quarters of the year. The point-in-time count coincided with a period of inflated rental costs stemming from the pandemic and a long-term housing shortage.
Natural disasters, including the devastating Maui fire, also contributed to the rise in homelessness, with many displaced individuals residing in emergency shelters during the count. The HUD acknowledges that the data, collected a year ago, may not fully reflect the current situation due to changing policies and conditions, such as executive actions regarding border security implemented after the data collection period. These actions, the HUD states, led to a significant decrease in unlawful border crossings.
Despite the overall increase in homelessness, the report highlights a positive trend among veterans, with veteran homelessness reaching its lowest recorded level. This decrease is attributed in part to the HUD-VASH program, which helped connect nearly 90,000 veteran households with stable housing. The Biden-Harris administration has announced further measures to address homelessness nationwide, including expanding partnerships with the Department of Health and Human Services and allocating additional funding for veteran housing support.
