770,000 Homeless People in the U.S....Increase at an All-Time High Rate

Sharp Increase in Homelessness Cases Among Families with Children
NYT "Partisan Debate Intensifies Over Causes of Rising Homelessness"

The number of homeless people in the United States has increased by a staggering 18% compared to a year ago.

The New York Times (NYT) reported, citing a report released on the 27th (local time) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, that approximately 770,000 people were counted as homeless as of January this year.

This figure represents an 18% increase from January last year, marking the largest annual increase since the Department of Housing and Urban Development began this statistical survey in 2007.

Compared to the entire U.S. population, this means that 23 out of every 10,000 Americans are living homeless. The report defines homelessness as living on the streets or other unprotected places, as well as in emergency shelters and temporary housing for the homeless.

Cases of homelessness increased across households with children, individuals, chronically homeless households, shelter residents, and households with minors or those under 24 years old. In particular, homelessness among families with children surged sharply. According to the report, from February 2023 to January this year, homelessness cases of this type increased by 39%. The overall homelessness increase rate was estimated at about 18.1%.

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The NYT predicted that as the number of homeless people reaches an all-time high, partisan debates over the causes will intensify.

The Democratic Party cites soaring housing prices, reductions in government rental subsidies, and severe economic inequality as causes, supporting the expansion of social safety nets.

On the other hand, the Republican Party points to the progressive camp's leniency toward the homeless as the cause. They argue that homeless people must receive treatment for mental illness or substance abuse to qualify for government support.

President-elect Donald Trump has advocated demolishing homeless encampments in cities and placing the homeless in collective shelters.

The report identified the causes of the increase in homelessness as ▲ years of soaring housing prices ▲ reduction of government support introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic ▲ stagnation of wage increases for middle- and low-income groups ▲ insufficient homeless support systems ▲ a surge in immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S.

In particular, government officials reportedly emphasized during media briefings on the report that the increase in immigrants seeking asylum has overloaded the homeless protection system in the affected areas.

Trump also claimed that mass deportation of illegal immigrants would increase the availability of affordable housing for other Americans.

However, The Washington Post (WP) reported that housing experts and economists expressed that Trump’s claims lack evidence.