A lack of affordable housing has led to more homeless Americans…

By editorial

Homelessness in the US has hit a record high this year as various support measures are phased out from the coronavirus crisis. This is evident from the analysis of Wall Street Journal Based on nationwide data. Due to high housing costs and housing shortages, there is a large group that can no longer find a home.

The number of homeless people is up about 11% so far this year compared to 2022, the largest increase since the U.S. government began tracking these numbers in 2007.

Rising housing costs

The rise reflects several pressure points in the U.S., such as rising housing costs, a lack of affordable rental housing and ongoing The opioid crisis According to several reports from nonprofit and government agencies that track these statistics, the country.

The main driver remains higher housing costs, which are now higher following the end of policies such as pandemic-related support measures and eviction delays. During the Corona crisis, the US government generously distributed cash to the public, acting as a buffer for the most financially vulnerable Americans.

Americans’ housing costs have risen sharply due to rising home prices and subsequent increases in interest rates. And those higher house prices are also impacting rents, as they have risen sharply during the coronavirus crisis. In 2021 and 2022, US apartment rents have increased An average of 9.4% per annum. Due to the lack of affordable housing and shelter, the number of homeless people is increasing.

More than half a million are homeless

The Wall Street Journal analyzed data from more than 300 homeless counting agencies, ranging from cities to entire states. Figures from these agencies represent eight out of every nine homeless people counted last year. By the Wall Street Journal’s count there are more than 577,000 homeless people.

These are preliminary figures and a final estimate is expected later this year from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The US Interagency Council on Homelessness, a federal agency, says housing costs and a shortage of shelters are contributing to the rising number of homeless people. The agency said the 2023 numbers do not reflect recent efforts by the Biden administration to address homelessness, such as providing more than $500 million in grants.

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