The United States is grappling with an unprecedented surge in homelessness, with a staggering 18.1% increase recorded in 2024. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), more than 770,000 people were counted as homeless during the January point-in-time survey—the highest number since the federal government began tracking homelessness in 2007.
The Numbers Behind the Crisis
The sharp increase comes on the heels of a 12% rise in 2023, highlighting a troubling trend. Today, approximately 23 out of every 10,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness. The crisis disproportionately affects Black Americans, who represent 32% of the homeless population despite comprising only 12% of the overall U.S. population.
“No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access to the affordable, safe, and quality housing they deserve,” said HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman. Despite this commitment, the numbers tell a starkly different story, with tens of thousands of families still living in shelters, cars, or on the streets.
Among the most concerning statistics is the nearly 40% surge in family homelessness. Cities like Denver, Chicago, and New York saw family homelessness more than double, largely driven by an influx of migrants seeking asylum. HUD reported that nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, marking a 33% rise from the previous year.
Where Have Increases Been the Highest?
The highest spikes in homelessness have been observed in states hit hardest by natural disasters and migration challenges. Hawaii, still reeling from the devastating Maui wildfires, reported thousands displaced and living in emergency shelters. On the night of the count, more than 5,200 people in Hawaii were still staying in emergency accommodations.
Similarly, cities overwhelmed by asylum seekers, including New York, Denver, and Chicago, have seen sharp increases in shelter populations. According to the report, family homelessness more than doubled in 13 communities most affected by migration, while it rose by less than 8% in the remaining 373 communities surveyed.
Conversely, some cities have managed to buck the trend. Dallas reported a 16% drop in homelessness after overhauling its approach to housing services, while Los Angeles saw a modest 5% reduction in unsheltered homelessness. “What that says is that, if we keep investing the right way in getting people off the streets and into housing as quickly as possible, we really can see those numbers go down,” said Jeff Olivet, former executive director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Why Is This Happening?
The causes behind the crisis are multifaceted. Housing costs remain prohibitively high, with rents outpacing wage growth across most major cities. Inflation, stagnant wages, and skyrocketing construction costs have exacerbated the housing shortage. The end of pandemic-era assistance, including rental relief and eviction moratoriums, has also contributed to rising numbers.
HUD officials highlighted that immigration has played a significant role, particularly in urban centers where asylum seekers have overwhelmed shelter systems. Additionally, natural disasters and extreme weather events have displaced thousands, adding further strain to already limited resources.
“Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing,” said Renee Willis, incoming interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Is Biden to Blame?
Critics argue that President Joe Biden’s administration has failed to address the root causes of homelessness effectively. Republicans blame the administration’s handling of border policies, pointing to the surge in asylum seekers as a key driver of the crisis. Former federal homelessness coordinator Robert Marbut criticized the Housing First policy, claiming it has failed to address substance abuse and mental health issues among the homeless population.
“This is just a horrible increase, and it shatters any myth that Housing First is working,” Marbut said, dismissing the idea that migration was the primary cause of rising homelessness.
In response, the Biden administration has emphasized that many of the factors driving the increase, including inflation and migration surges, predate the current administration. HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman pointed to ongoing efforts to repurpose federal properties for housing, expand housing vouchers, and advocate for zoning reform to increase affordable housing stock. These are weak protests for an administration which had four years for its policies to work.
What Are People Saying?
Advocates and experts remain divided on solutions. Renee Willis of the National Low Income Housing Coalition highlighted chronic underinvestment in affordable housing as a root cause. “The rise in homelessness is a predictable outcome of failing to address housing affordability,” she said.
On the other hand, conservative analysts argue that housing policies incentivize dependency rather than self-sufficiency. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed controversial measures, including tent cities and institutionalizing unhoused individuals with mental health issues.
Trump supporters argue that criminalizing outdoor sleeping and mandating treatment for addiction and mental health conditions will lead to better outcomes. However, Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, warned against these approaches, saying, “What we need is investment in a range of solutions for people. We need all of the above. It’s not an either-or way of thinking that’s going to solve this.”
Glimmers of Hope: Veteran Homelessness Declines
One area of progress is the continued decline in veteran homelessness, which fell by 8% this year. This success is often attributed to bipartisan support for targeted programs, housing vouchers, and mental health services tailored specifically to veterans.
“The reduction in veteran homelessness offers us a clear roadmap for addressing homelessness on a larger scale,” Oliva added.
FAM Editor: It is clear that the Democrats’ liberal policies, which had a clear shot over the last four years, have not worked, and in fact have worsened the problem of homelessness. It is time for a change.
