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US Homelessness Jumps 18% in 2024 to Record High; Family Homelessness Up Nearly 40%

Dec 27, 2024, 06:30 PM

The United States experienced an 18.1% increase in homelessness in 2024, reaching a record high of over 770,000 people, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The surge is attributed to a lack of affordable housing, devastating natural disasters, a significant influx of asylum seekers and migrants, and the end of pandemic-era measures in several parts of the country, particularly in January. The increase is the largest annual rise since the homelessness count began in 2007. Notably, family homelessness rose nearly 40%, and approximately 150,000 children experienced homelessness, reflecting a 33% increase over 2023. States such as New York and Illinois saw pronounced jumps, with New York experiencing a 55,000 person increase and Illinois a 14,000 person increase compared to last year. The report also found that homelessness reached record levels among unaccompanied youths.