WASHINGTON: The US Department of Housing and Urban Development said on Friday that the homelessness rate in the United States rose by a record 18 percent last year, due to unaffordable housing, high inflation, systemic racism, natural disasters and rising unemployment. There are factors like immigration.
Why is this important?
America’s homelessness problem is getting worse, with homeless people living in the open in tents on city sidewalks, a common sight in many cities. The federal and state governments have put forward different strategies to deal with the crisis.
From the numbers
A total of 771,480 people — or about 23 out of every 10,000 people in the U.S. — experienced homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe shelter, transitional housing program, or unsheltered location, according to data released Friday.
According to the data, between 2023 and 2024, the total number of homeless people has increased by 18 percent. Annual figures released last year showed a 12 percent increase in homelessness.
According to the data, between 2023 and 2024, children under 18 were the age group that saw the biggest increase in homelessness, with a 33 percent increase and 150,000 children experiencing crisis. were
The data shows that black people, who make up 12 percent of the total U.S. population and 21 percent of the U.S. population living in poverty, represent 32 percent of all people who are homeless.
Key passages
The Department of Housing and Urban Development said, “Our worsening national affordable housing crisis, rising inflation, stagnant wages in middle- and low-income households, and the continued impact of systemic racism have strained the homeless service system. has stretched to its limits,” said the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This includes “additional public health crises, natural disasters that have displaced people from their homes, increased numbers of people immigrating to the U.S., and homelessness prevention programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.” End of” also noted.