Homelessness in the United States surged to its highest recorded level under President Joe Biden, with more than 771,480 people lacking a home in January 2024, according to a Department of Housing and Urban Development report released Friday.
The 18 percent increase from 2023 represents about 23 of every 10,000 Americans, driven by soaring housing costs, government spending issues, and overwhelmed shelter systems.
Families with children experienced the sharpest rise, jumping 39 percent in the largest such increase on record.
“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,” said HUD Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman.
The crisis has turned deadly in some regions.
In Vermont, where recent changes limited emergency housing access, seven people died last month from exposure to cold. “The outcomes are catastrophic,” said Brenda Siegel, executive director of the far-Left group End Homelessness Vermont.
Veterans were the only group showing improvement, with an 8 percent decline in homelessness.
“The reduction in veteran homelessness offers us a clear road map for addressing homelessness on a larger scale,” said Ann Oliva, chief executive of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Cities nationwide struggle with solutions after a June Supreme Court ruling allowed bans on outdoor sleeping.
More than 100 jurisdictions have moved to restrict camping. Economists have urged cities to simply build more housing, as rampant zoning policies popular in Democrat-controlled areas are often cited as the reason for the spike in housing costs.
Indeed, the crisis reflects a severe housing shortage nationwide. The U.S. lacks 4.5 million homes overall and 7.3 million affordable units for low-income residents. Median rents rose 20 percent between January 2021 and 2024, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Critics argue the annual count, conducted on a single January night, significantly undercounts the problem.
“The crisis is much worse than those numbers tell us,” said Sara Rankin, director of Seattle University’s Homeless Rights Advocacy Project.
President-elect Donald Trump maintains that deporting millions of illegal immigrants will increase housing availability.
His HUD nominee, former Texas legislator Scott Turner, faces calls to maintain or expand housing assistance as shelters reach capacity nationwide.