United states sees record high in homeless people

The number of homeless individuals in the United States surged by 18% last year, driven by factors such as persistent high inflation and rising housing costs. Reuters reports that this trend is contributing to the growing homelessness crisis. This information was shared in a report published last Friday by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to the report, by January, the homeless population in the U.S. had reached 771,480, marking an 18% increase from 2023. This means that 23 out of every 10,000 people in the country are homeless. HUD highlighted that the homelessness situation is deteriorating, with tent encampments and people living in open spaces becoming more common in many cities. In response, both federal and state governments have rolled out various measures to tackle the issue. The data also reveals that homelessness among individuals under 18 has seen the largest increase over the past year, rising by 33%. Last year, approximately 150,000 children were affected by homelessness. Additionally, a significant proportion of homeless individuals in the U.S. are Black. Black people make up 12% of the total U.S. population and 21% of the poor population, but they account for around 32% of the homeless population. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the average rent for a mid-range home has risen by 20% from January 2021 to January 2024. This sharp increase has placed additional financial strain on middle- and low-income families, contributing to the rise in homelessness. Moreover, factors such as natural disasters displacing people, increased immigration, and the end of homelessness prevention programs introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic have further worsened the homelessness crisis.