For more than 653,100 Americans, in shelters, cars, tents, or on the streets, according to a government report released on Friday. This is the highest number of homeless people ever recorded in the US, and a 12 percent increase from last year.
The report, conducted by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, revealed some alarming trends and disparities in the homeless population. African Americans, who make up only 13 percent of the total US population, account for 37 percent of all people experiencing homelessness. Hispanics saw the largest jump in homelessness, with a 28 percent increase in just one year. And families with children, who had been declining in numbers since 2012, rose by 16 percent in 2023.
The report also showed the geographic distribution of homelessness across the country. California has the largest homeless population, with 181,399 people, followed by New York, Florida, Washington state, Texas, and Oregon. These states have some of the highest costs of living and housing shortages in the nation, making it harder for low-income and vulnerable people to afford a stable home.
Experts say that the homelessness crisis in the US is fueled by a number of factors including poverty, mental health, addiction, and lack of social services. They also warn that the situation could worsen as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic inequality continue to impact millions of Americans.
The report calls for urgent action from the federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private and nonprofit sectors, to address the root causes of homelessness and provide more resources and support for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. As the report states, “Ending homelessness in America is a moral imperative and an achievable goal.”
