The United States sets a record number of homeless people in 2023

The United States recorded an increase of 12% homeless (homeless) during the past year, as their number reached a record number of 653,104 individuals. This increase represents the largest increase since the federal government began the annual count in 2007 United States Department of Planning and Urban Development.

nbc He pointed out that the recovery is linked to the cessation of government aid due to the pandemic and the continued rise in prices. Housing costsThese are the factors that prompted many Americans to take to the streets or shelters.

The increase is largely due to people who are Homeless for the first timebreaking the downtrend in the section Homeless family Which has been registered since 2012.

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia FudgeShe declared the urgent need to support solutions and strategies that allow us to escape homelessness quickly and prevent this situation from starting. At the same time, the number of No veterans homes And Families with children By 7.4% and 15.5%, respectively.

As for homeless individuals, the rate rose by nearly 11%, highlighting that African Americans, who make up 13% of the population in the U.S. United StateBut they constitute 37% of the total homeless population.

Additionally, more than a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness were older than 54 years. Executive Director of American Interagency Council on Homelessness, Jeff OlivetHe noted that additional government assistance has helped slow the increase Homelessness (Being homeless) This became clear today.

“While many factors drive homelessness, the most important reasons are the shortage of affordable housing and the high cost of housing that has left many Americans living paycheck to paycheck and in a homelessness crisis,” Olivier said. Associated Press.

the High housing costs And decreased federal aid due Covid-19 It is referred to as the main driver of this crisis. Anne Oliva, CEO National Alliance to End HomelessnessHe pointed out that the transition from housing to non-existence is accelerating.

During the height of the pandemic, government protections served as containment, but at the end of 2022, federal emergency rent support ended and evictions have been on the rise since the national eviction moratorium expired in the fall of 2021, he noted. Use today.

Despite the increasing number of people who have become homeless and the difficulty of reintegrating them into housing, homeless service providers have been able to help more than 420,000 citizens get out of this problem or avoid homelessness, according to HUD data.