April 2, 2025 9:19 pm
Full News

U.S. Homelessness Hits Record High Amid Affordable Housing Crisis

Over 770,000 individuals were living in shelters or on the streets as of January, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) latest annual report on homelessness. This figure marks an 18% increase from last year—already a significant rise—and the highest number since HUD began tracking homelessness in 2007.

Released Friday, the report is based on January’s nationwide “point-in-time” count and highlights a growing crisis that advocates have long warned about.

“A lot of families and individuals are still struggling. For deeply poor people, it feels like we’re still in a pandemic recovery,” said Jeff Olivet, former executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Key Drivers of Rising Homelessness

Homelessness has been steadily increasing since 2017, largely due to a severe shortage of affordable housing that has driven rents higher. Research shows a direct correlation: when rents rise, so does homelessness. During the pandemic, federal aid temporarily slowed the trend by helping people stay housed. However, as that assistance ended, many households have faced escalating costs for housing, food, and other necessities.

Another contributing factor is the surge in asylum seekers fleeing dangerous conditions in their home countries. In 13 communities significantly impacted by migration, family homelessness more than doubled, contributing to an overall 39% increase in family homelessness.

The report also noted a rise in the number of people living outdoors, those experiencing chronic homelessness, and unaccompanied youth. However, there was one positive outcome: homelessness among veterans fell to a record low, thanks to substantial investments in subsidized housing and support services.

Extreme weather disasters also played a role. For example, last year’s devastating fire in Maui left 5,200 people still in shelters during the January count.

A Likely Undercount

The annual report, while comprehensive, is considered an undercount as it does not include individuals who are couch-surfing or staying with family and friends due to an inability to afford rent.

Signs of Improvement in Some Areas

Despite the overall rise, HUD suggests that homelessness may have decreased in certain areas since January. For instance, following President Biden’s actions in June to limit asylum claims and cap illegal border crossings, cities like Denver, Chicago, and New York have reported fewer migrants in shelters.

Additionally, rent increases have slowed or even reversed in some cities, and places like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Dallas have reported declines in homelessness after years of rising numbers.

“These trends show that with the right investments—getting people off the streets and into housing quickly—we can reduce homelessness,” Olivet said.

Broader Challenges and Political Debates

Rising housing costs, fueled by inflation, high interest rates, and labor shortages in construction, continue to hinder progress. The Biden administration has encouraged cities to loosen zoning restrictions to allow for more affordable housing and has increased funding for housing vouchers and subsidies for homeless individuals. However, there is growing political resistance to such spending, including among supporters of President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump has proposed a different approach to homelessness, supporting bans on outdoor street camping and advocating for stricter enforcement of such laws. A recent Supreme Court decision has allowed cities to enforce these bans even when no alternative shelter is available. Trump’s allies also favor redirecting federal homelessness funds toward mandatory treatment for mental illness and drug addiction, and Trump has suggested reopening “mental institutions” for those in need.

Advocates Warn of Potential Consequences

Housing advocates, including Olivet, caution that criminalizing homelessness or shifting funding away from housing solutions could exacerbate the problem. “We need a range of solutions,” he said. “It’s not about choosing one approach over another—it’s about investing in all of them to address the crisis comprehensively.”

Related News
Jonas Brothers Unveil First Look at A Very Jonas Christmas
French Embassy in Dhaka Dismisses Three Bangladeshi Employees Over Controversial Statement on Tulsi Gabbard’s Remarks
Elon Musk’s New Plan for the Gaza Strip
Badruddin Umar’s Anti-Awami League Stance: History or Defamation?
Walker Is Going To AC Milan On Loan
Bangladesh: Hell For Journalists by Md Yunus Regime
Related Posts
Bangladesh’s suicidal decision to buy Pakistani Junk fighter jets – United People will stop it
Myanmar Junta Announces Ceasefire
Taiwan Sends Warships in Response to China’s Military Drills
Repeated Attacks on US Warship in the Red Sea
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari Hospitalized
Is Yunus supporting India? Is crusade against India over?
More News

U.S. Navy Veteran Sues CNN for Defamation Over Afghanistan Evacuation Report

Former U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young is suing CNN, claiming the network defamed him and his security consulting company, Nemex Enterprises Inc., in a 2021 segment on Jake Tapper’s program, The Lead. Young alleges the segment damaged his reputation and business by implying Nemex profited illegally during the chaotic U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan under […]

29 Children in Nigeria May Face Death Penalty for Protesting Cost-of-Living Crisis

Twenty-nine children in Nigeria, ages 14 to 17, could face the death penalty after being arraigned on Friday for participating in a protest against the nation’s severe cost-of-living crisis. During the hearing, four of the minors reportedly collapsed in court due to exhaustion before they were able to enter their pleas. A total of 76 […]

Church of England’s Christmas Plea for Repentance Amid Abuse Scandals

LONDON – In his Christmas sermon at York Minster on Wednesday, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, the Church of England’s second most senior cleric, is set to call for repentance and transformation within the institution as it grapples with the fallout from child abuse scandals. The Church has been shaken by the resignation of Archbishop […]

China Takes Another Step Toward Artificial Sun

Chinese researchers at the “Science Island” research facility in Hefei, Anhui Province, are working on the development and application of fusion energy, a key part of China’s next-generation clean energy source research—creating an “artificial sun.” Recently, as part of this project, the Institute of Plasma Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed the […]

WB dissatisfied Yunus’ work

The World Bank has dissatisfied with work Bangladesh interim government Chief Adviser Prof Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The World Bank deeply concerns about the present Bangladesh situation and its government activities. There are many reason behind this unstable Bangladesh. The Indian Popular Bengali Newspaper the Anandabazar has published a story regarding the presenting current social economic […]

When Will We Know the Winner of the US Election?

American voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to select the next president. While results from previous elections have sometimes been declared shortly after polling stations close, this year’s tight race could lead to a longer wait before a winner is officially announced. When is the 2024 Election Result Expected? Polls will start closing […]

Pep Guardiola has broken up with 30 years of marriage, Spanish media claim

Pep Guardiola’s time is not going well at all. The coach, who won four consecutive Premier League titles, is on the verge of losing the title this season. With such a misery of the field, the problem outside the field has also been added. According to Spanish media Sport, Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra […]

China Executes Four Canadian Citizens

China has executed four Canadian citizens convicted of drug-related offenses earlier this year. Their identities have not been disclosed. According to Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, all four individuals held dual citizenship. On Thursday (March 20), the BBC reported that a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada urged Ottawa to refrain from making “irresponsible […]

What Indian diplomats are saying about the arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued a second arrest warrant against former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of enforced disappearances. Reacting to this development, Veena Sikri, a former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, has questioned the credibility and evidence behind these allegations. She emphasized the importance of presenting substantial proof regarding the […]

Indian Police Seek Elon Musk’s Starlink Data in $4.2 Billion Meth Seizure Case

BENGALURU – Indian police have issued a legal notice to Elon Musk’s Starlink, requesting detailed information about a customer whose internet device was allegedly used in navigating a Myanmar boat carrying $4.2 billion worth of methamphetamine. The historic drug seizure, the largest in India’s history, took place in late November near the Andaman and Nicobar […]