The increase in homelessness is particularly stark among families and children. Nearly 150,000 children were homeless on any given night in 2024, a shocking 33% increase from 2023. Family homelessness rose by 39% from 2023 to 2024, with significant impacts reported in communities affected by migration and natural disasters.The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been tracking these trends, and their latest report highlights that people who identify as Black, African American, or African continue to be overrepresented among the homeless population. Despite these challenges, there have been some efforts to address the crisis. HUD has added 435,000 new rental units in the first three quarters of 2024, and rental costs have stabilized or even decreased in some cities since January.Advocacy groups and policymakers are calling for more immediate and effective measures to tackle homelessness. They emphasize the importance of expanding rental assistance and ensuring access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for all. The outgoing Biden administration announced measures to streamline the repurposing of surplus federal properties for affordable housing and homelessness services, and to support veterans through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program. However, there are concerns that the incoming Republican administration may roll back these efforts and pursue policies that could exacerbate the homelessness crisis.
