Homelessness rates jumped by double digits in 2024 as Americans battled to afford housing

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/27/how-many-people-are-homeless-us-2024/ [login to see] 7/
Homelessness in the US reached the highest level this year since the federal government began keeping records roughly two decades ago. Nearly 772,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January, up 18% from 2023, according to federally required tallies taken across the country.
The data, released yesterday, attributed the rise to various factors, including high rents, the end of pandemic-era protections, and an influx of migrants that have overwhelmed shelters in cities like Chicago, New York City, and Denver.
Other data points include family homelessness increasing by 39% and 150,000 children experiencing homelessness, with the latter figure reflecting a 33% rise from 2023. Meanwhile, homelessness among veterans dropped 8% this year to roughly 32,000. Dallas, which made plans in 2021 to overhaul its homelessness response system, saw a 16% drop in homelessness from 2022 to 2024. In Los Angeles, which increased housing for the homeless, the rate has dropped by 5% since 2023.