The United States is on track to break a record for homelessness, with over 650,000 individuals projected to be living on the streets this year. Data reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, collected from more than 250 homeless organizations, indicates at least 550,000 homeless individuals have been counted so far—a 10 percent increase from last year.
The figures, gathered from both urban and rural areas during a single night earlier this year, suggest that the US will likely surpass the 2023 estimate of 653,000 homeless people, marking the highest total since the government began tracking this data in 2007. The final count will depend on yet-to-be-reported data from places like New York City, which had the largest homeless population in 2023.
Contributing to this surge in numbers are migrants bused from Texas to cities such as Chicago and Denver, as well as an influx of migrants arriving in New York. Most recent counts were conducted in January, coinciding with a record number of unlawful border crossings. Although crossings decreased significantly in the months following, many counts were completed prior to these changes.
Homelessness is not solely attributed to migrant influxes; advocates cite the end of pandemic-related aid, rising housing prices, and rents as critical factors pushing individuals out of homes. Additionally, issues such as mental health crises and the opioid epidemic have exacerbated the situation. Last year, the US recorded an all-time high for chronic homelessness, which includes individuals with disabilities who remain unhoused.
Nearly 400 organizations participate in these counts, but some have withheld their data until the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) releases its 2024 report in December. The counts are considered preliminary snapshots and may be underreported due to volunteer participation variability and adverse weather conditions.
HUD has reported some progress in cities like Phoenix and Los Angeles, highlighting government efforts to assist veterans and allocate funds for housing and legal aid to prevent evictions. However, the agency is still analyzing this year’s data, and the January counts may not reflect current figures.
Boston has reported an 11 percent rise in homelessness, partly attributed to increasing numbers of migrants. In Massachusetts, nearly half of the 7,250 families in shelters are migrants, prompting the state to allocate over $1 billion for shelter and support services this fiscal year.
Other cities experiencing increases in homelessness include Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and Miami, while Milwaukee has reported a 16 percent decrease in its homeless population.
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