By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A dramatic 18.1% surge in U.S. homelessness in 2024, totaling over 770,000 individuals, is primarily attributed to escalating housing costs, natural disasters, and increased migrant populations. This follows a 12% increase in 2023, and disproportionately affects Black individuals and families, with family homelessness rising nearly 40% nationwide. While veteran homelessness decreased, the overall increase highlights the urgent need for increased investment in affordable housing and evidence-based solutions to prevent and end homelessness.
Read the original article here
The staggering 18% increase in US homelessness underscores a harsh reality: affordable housing is simply out of reach for far too many people. This isn’t just a matter of individual misfortune; it’s a systemic problem fueled by a complex interplay of factors, making life incredibly difficult for those already struggling. The lack of safe, affordable housing creates a vicious cycle, exacerbating existing challenges like poverty and mental health issues.
Even existing initiatives like “Housing First” programs, which prioritize providing housing before addressing other needs, face significant hurdles. While these programs can offer a lifeline, providing a safe and stable environment, even these initiatives are constantly fighting to overcome negative perceptions and the bureaucratic challenges that impact their efficacy. Success stories, where individuals transition to better housing after participating in a program, highlight the potential but also point to the systemic barriers.
The root of the problem lies in a lack of political will to implement effective solutions. Building more low-income housing, increasing the overall housing supply to alleviate pressure on existing affordable units, and reforming outdated zoning laws are crucial steps. Yet, these measures often face staunch opposition from those who prioritize maintaining the status quo, particularly those who profit from the current system. The reluctance to challenge powerful interests and vested property rights demonstrates a concerning prioritization of the wealthy over the welfare of a vulnerable population.
The skyrocketing cost of housing itself plays a significant role. Anecdotal evidence reveals the increasingly perilous situation for many, even those with stable jobs and incomes. The current market makes homeownership a risky proposition, leaving many vulnerable to job loss, and forcing people into difficult choices, such as staying in unaffordable housing to avoid a much more dangerous situation. The dramatic rise in home prices, coupled with higher interest rates, means that even modest gains in income are often insufficient to offset the escalating costs of housing.
The problem is further complicated by the practices of large corporations and wealthy individuals who amass significant numbers of residential properties, converting them into rental units and driving up rents significantly. This commercialization of the housing market reduces the supply of homes available for purchase, making ownership less accessible to average citizens, resulting in the increase in unaffordable rents. The situation is worsened by the actions of house flippers who buy low and sell high, squeezing out potential buyers who wish to establish long-term residency and investing only in superficial upgrades before reselling for profit. This practice increases home costs without necessarily enhancing housing quality, and keeps the inventory low.
Proposed solutions, such as implementing a luxury tax on multiple property owners, could potentially disincentivize hoarding of properties, forcing some units back onto the market and perhaps making homes more readily available to working families. This would place some pressure on the rich to offload their excess properties at affordable rates to lower their taxes.
The pervasive issue of misinformation further complicates the conversation. Attributing homelessness solely to drug addiction or mental illness, while undeniably relevant factors in some cases, ignores the far-reaching impact of unaffordable housing. These factors are not mutually exclusive, and many who find themselves without housing have a far more complex set of issues at play. The systemic issues that contribute to this problem must be addressed. To ignore the role of rising housing costs is to avoid the core of the crisis.
The inadequacy of current data collection methods also hinders effective solutions. The annual “single-night” count of the homeless population, for example, fails to capture the true extent of the problem, missing those living in cars, couch-surfing, or otherwise in unstable housing situations. Gaining a clearer picture of the full scope of homelessness is crucial for implementing effective policies.
The solutions are not limited to tax reforms. Regulatory changes, such as allowing for higher-density housing construction, removing minimum square footage requirements, and reducing parking mandates, can make building affordable housing more financially viable. Essentially, mimicking the construction practices in European cities can increase the number of housing units and lower construction costs, allowing for more accessible and efficient living spaces.
Ultimately, the current housing crisis represents a fundamental failure to prioritize the well-being of all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable. The lack of affordable housing is not simply an issue of individual responsibility; it is a complex systemic failure that requires a multi-pronged approach involving legislative action, regulatory reform, and a fundamental shift in societal priorities. Addressing this crisis requires bold action and a renewed commitment to ensuring that every American has access to safe and affordable housing.