Homelessness Climbs By Double Digits In 2024 As Affordable Housing Remains Out Of Reach

The number of homeless people in the United States jumped 18% this year - the highest level ever recorded - driven by the lack of affordable housing, a series of natural disasters and a surge of migrants claiming asylum at the border.

The report, released by Housing and Urban Development and based on federal counts taken across the country on a single night in January, found that more than 770,000 people were homeless in January of this year - that's about 23 of every 10,000 people.

The number of homeless families with children surged 39% compared to the previous year.

HUD said nearly 150,000 children were homeless, an increase of 33% , or 32,618 children, compared to 2023.

While homelessness grew in just about every category, it fell 8% among veterans, continuing a trend that began in 2009.

"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," HUD Agency Head Adrianne Todman said in a statement.

"While this data is nearly a year old, and no longer reflects the situation we are seeing, it is critical that we focus on evidence-based efforts to prevent and end homelessness. We know what works and our success in reducing veteran homelessness by 55.2% since 2010 shows that," she said.