Homelessness in the US has surged by 18% in 2024, marking the steepest rise in recent years, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The increase, highlighted in HUD’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, is based on a snapshot of homelessness taken in January.
The report revealed that 771,480 Americans—roughly 23 out of every 10,000 people—found themselves without shelter, whether in emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional housing, or on the streets.
The sharp increase in homelessness is attributed to a mix of factors, including the nationwide affordable housing crisis, inflation, stagnant wages, systemic inequality, ongoing public health challenges, natural disasters, rising immigration, and the end of pandemic-era programs aimed at preventing homelessness.
Among the most alarming trends, homelessness among families with children rose by 39% from 2023 to 2024, with nearly 150,000 children experiencing homelessness—a 33% increase from the previous year.
On a positive note, HUD reported a drop in homelessness among veterans, with a nearly 8% decrease in the total number of homeless veterans, from 35,574 in 2023 to 32,882 in 2024. The unsheltered veteran population also fell by almost 11%.
In a statement, HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring that every American family has access to safe, affordable housing. She stressed the need for evidence-based efforts to prevent and eliminate homelessness, underscoring that while the data is from early 2024, it highlights ongoing challenges that need urgent attention.
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