Homelessness in the United States has reached a record high, surging by 18.1% in 2024, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This dramatic increase in the number of homeless individuals is largely due to a combination of factors, including the ongoing lack of affordable housing, a surge in natural disasters, and a rise in the number of migrants in certain regions. HUD’s survey, conducted on a single night in January 2024, counted more than 770,000 homeless individuals. This estimate likely undercounts the true number of people without stable housing, as it excludes individuals who may be staying with family or friends.
The rise in homelessness comes after a 12% increase in 2023, a year when rising rents and the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs contributed to a larger-than-usual spike in homelessness. Economic hardship, the end of eviction moratoriums, and escalating housing costs have all combined to put many low-income families at risk of losing their homes.
As housing costs soar, many Americans are becoming increasingly cost-burdened, meaning they are spending more than 30% of their income on housing. For vulnerable populations, including people of color and low-income workers, this growing affordability gap has made finding stable housing even more difficult. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has raised alarm over this trend, stressing the need for more comprehensive solutions to address the housing crisis.
Family homelessness has become one of the most concerning trends in 2024, with the number of families experiencing homelessness increasing by nearly 40%. This surge is particularly notable in cities that have seen large numbers of migrants arrive, including New York, Chicago, and Denver. HUD’s report indicates that family homelessness more than doubled in 13 cities affected by migrant influxes, while homelessness increased by less than 8% in the rest of the country. Nearly 150,000 children experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, marking a 33% increase from the previous year.
Natural disasters have also played a significant role in the rise in homelessness, particularly the catastrophic Maui wildfire in 2023, which left more than 5,000 people in emergency shelters. The combination of extreme weather events, like hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, has displaced many people, compounding the housing crisis. The increasing frequency of these disasters due to climate change is expected to exacerbate homelessness further, making it harder for displaced families to find stable housing.
Renee Willis, the interim CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, pointed to the lack of investment in affordable housing as a major contributing factor to the rising homelessness crisis. “Increased homelessness is the tragic, yet predictable, consequence of underinvesting in the resources and protections that help people find and maintain safe, affordable housing,” she said.
While the situation remains dire for many, there have been some positive developments. Several large cities have managed to reduce their homeless populations. Dallas, for example, has seen a 16% decrease in homelessness between 2022 and 2024. Los Angeles, despite its high homeless population, has seen a 5% drop in unsheltered homelessness. However, these successes are the exception, not the rule, and the overall trend across the country remains one of rising homelessness.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development continues to call for greater investments in affordable housing and supportive services for people at risk of homelessness. HUD head Adrianne Todman emphasized the importance of ensuring that every American has access to stable housing, saying, “No one should have to choose between paying for food or paying rent.”
The latest HUD report also highlights the ongoing crisis among veterans, with the homeless veteran population continuing to trend downward. In 2024, homelessness among veterans decreased by 8%, a sign that federal programs like Housing First are making a difference for this population. Despite this success, overall homelessness remains a significant challenge, with growing numbers of people across the U.S. struggling to find affordable, stable housing.
The increase in homelessness is a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive policy solutions to address the root causes of housing instability. Advocates argue that the focus should not just be on providing emergency shelter but on ensuring long-term access to safe and affordable housing for all. Without significant investments in affordable housing, the crisis is likely to continue to worsen, leaving more and more Americans vulnerable to homelessness.
As we move forward into 2025, it is clear that the U.S. must take more decisive action to tackle the housing crisis. The federal government, local governments, and the private sector must work together to create a system that offers stable, affordable housing for everyone, regardless of income. Only through coordinated action and long-term planning can we hope to reverse the rising tide of homelessness and ensure that all Americans have a place to call home.
