The number of homeless individuals in the United States has increased by more than 18% this year compared to the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Over 770,000 people are currently without shelter.
The increase is attributed to rising rental prices, making housing unaffordable for many, and the end of pandemic-related financial support. California has the highest number of homeless people, followed by New York, Washington, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Homelessness is particularly prevalent among African Americans. The number of homeless families rose by nearly 40% last year, with natural disasters also contributing.
A major wildfire on Maui, Hawaii in the summer of 2023 left over 5,200 people homeless. The number of homeless veterans decreased by 8% to 32,882 this year.
The count, conducted in January, included those in shelters, temporary housing, and on the streets, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, 550,000 Americans were homeless.
The U.S. population is over 346 million.
Source: NOS