the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Homelessness in the United States has reached its highest level since the federal government began tracking the issue nearly 20 years ago. According to new data, almost 772,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2024, marking an 18% increase from 2023. This alarming statistic sheds light on a deepening crisis fueled by soaring rents, limited affordable housing, and an influx of migrants seeking asylum.
Key Findings from the 2024 Homelessness Report
The data, released by federal agencies, paints a sobering picture of the state of homelessness in America:
1. Overall Increase in Homelessness
- 772,000 individuals were homeless on a single night in January, the highest count since records began.
- This marks an 18% rise from 2023, which itself was a record year.
2. Family Homelessness on the Rise
- More than 80,000 families with children were homeless in 2024, a staggering 39% increase from the previous year.
- 150,000 children experienced homelessness, reflecting a 33% rise compared to 2023.
3. Homelessness Among Veterans Declines
- Amid the overall increase, there was a silver lining: homelessness among veterans dropped by 8%, leaving approximately 32,000 veterans without stable housing.
Drivers of the Crisis
1. High Rents and Limited Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing rents and a shortage of affordable housing have left many families struggling to secure shelter. The end of pandemic-era protections, such as eviction moratoriums and rental assistance, exacerbated the issue.
2. Illegal immigration
Cities like New York, Chicago, and Denver have seen shelters overwhelmed by migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Although border crossings have declined since January, the initial surge heavily strained resources in these cities.
Regional Insights: Progress Amid Challenges
Dallas Makes Progress
Dallas saw a 16% decrease in homelessness from 2022 to 2024, thanks to efforts initiated in 2021 to overhaul its homelessness response system.
Los Angeles Sees Improvement
In Los Angeles, homelessness decreased by 5% since 2023, attributed to significant investments in housing solutions for the unhoused population.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 data underscores the urgent need for a multifaceted approach to combat homelessness. Solutions must include:
- Expanding affordable housing: Addressing the critical shortage is essential to reduce homelessness.
- Targeted support for vulnerable groups: Families and children require immediate intervention, while successful veteran programs should be expanded.
- Strengthening social safety nets: Reinstituting eviction protections and rental assistance programs can help prevent homelessness before it starts.
While some cities have made progress, the nationwide surge highlights the need for coordinated federal, state, and local efforts to tackle this growing crisis.
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And who has a financial/power accretion stake in the collection and presentation of this new data? Amazing that a lot of it can be tracked so precisely.
If everyone who was a victim of whatever crisis was surveyed and reported, no one would be left alive.
Send the illegal aliens’ home, that will free up plenty of affordable housing.
Who will do your yard work?
I will
The same guys that always did it before the illegals came flooding in. Don’t use such flimsy reasons why illegals should be here.
You mean the same guys who “employ” the illegals? The same goes for the all nurseries around town where you buy your mulch and overpriced bushes.
I make sure all my landscapers have H1-B visas.
Gun control will not stop murder, much like homelessness will not be solved by affordable housing.