Homelessness Rates Spiked in 2024

The rate of homelessness in the U.S. in January 2024 rose 18% from 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

For Context: The over 770,000 people recorded brings the U.S. homeless population to about 0.23%. The HUD “January 2024 Point-In-Time Count Report” states that homelessness increased 12% in 2023. 

The Details: HUD’s report states “Migration had a particularly notable impact on family homelessness, which rose 39% from 2023-2024. In the 13 communities that reported being affected by migration, family homelessness more than doubled… in the remaining 373 communities, the rise in families experiencing homelessness was less than 8%.” The department criticized Republicans in Congress for blocking a bill including border security measures earlier this year, defending the Biden Administration.

Natural disasters and unaffordable housing were also cited by HUD as contributing to the homelessness increase.

Among those experiencing homelessness, about 150,000 were children– an increase of 33% since last year. Veteran homelessness, on the other hand, decreased about 8%– a decrease of about 55.2% since 2010.  

How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the right focused on the influx of migrants, with Daily Caller (Right bias) framing the Biden Administration as complicit. Outlets on the left, such as USA Today (Lean Left bias) and Associated Press (Left bias), focused more on the lack of affordable housing. Wall Street Journal (Center bias) pointed to the “migrant influx” first but also highlighted housing costs and natural disasters.