The Biden administration’s 2024 report reveals an alarming 18% increase in homelessness linked to a surge in immigration. What factors led to this rise?
Rising Homelessness and Immigration Surge
The Biden administration’s recent findings highlight a worrying 18% rise in U.S. homelessness in 2024, attributed to an immigration surge. Data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) notes an all-time high since 2007, exceeding 770,000 individuals on a single night in January. Rising rents and a surge in migrants are major contributors, impacting communities heavily, especially areas with significant influxes of asylum seekers.
Biden admin partially blames immigration surge for massive spike in homelessness
The Department of Housing and Urban Development found that 770,000 people were homeless across the U.S. on a single night in January 2024, up 18.1% from the same point a year prior. pic.twitter.com/xuwWwdjQsv
— Alpha News (@AlphaNewsMN) December 28, 2024
While this growth spreads across families and individuals, it mainly affects communities handling rising numbers of asylum seekers. HUD reports a notable rise in family homelessness, with a 39% increase in communities impacted by migration. The cumulative pressure drives up housing costs, particularly in border regions and urban centers. This rise aligns with federal data indicating persistent growth trends since 2017.
US homelessness hit a record high in 2024. Federal officials say the increase was driven by a surge of asylum seekers in January https://t.co/YPE6158UFd via @citylab
— Bloomberg (@business) December 27, 2024
The Biden administration’s policies allowing millions of illegal immigrants into our country and provided them shelter has turned its back on the citizens they are responsible for. https://t.co/vlplLaVVbz
— Robert Greenway (@RC_Greenway) December 27, 2024
Federal Aid and Policy Responses
Homelessness in the United States has steadily increased, partially due to halted federal aid post-pandemic. Many families and households face enduring struggles amid high living costs. “A lot of families, a lot of households, a lot of individuals are still struggling,” says Jeff Olivet. These hardships are intensified by extreme weather events, underscoring a multifaceted crisis highlighted in the annual HUD report, which analysts suggest is an undercount due to the non-tracking migration status.
Efforts to manage the housing crisis are underway. The Biden administration has enacted zoning changes, increased subsidies, and addressed housing costs. Despite these efforts, data show some communities experiencing decreased homelessness, attributed to policy shifts and stabilized rent increases. There remains a call for comprehensive solutions, advocating for a broader investment strategy to counter the growing challenge.
The Role of Public Frustration and Policy Proposals
Public frustration over homelessness has led to legislative measures criminalizing sleeping in public spaces, actions supported by President-elect Trump. While Trump allies propose reallocating federal funding towards mental health and addiction treatments, there is pushback from housing advocates who argue these could detract from necessary housing investments. This tension highlights the complex nature of homelessness policy, likely deepening partisan divides.
HUD officials acknowledge that previous data collected may not fully represent current conditions, particularly where migration impacts communities. Some cities noted improvements, suggesting that targeted investments can decrease homelessness. As HUD states, “Some communities reported data to HUD that indicated that the rise in overall homelessness was a result of their work to shelter a rising number of asylum seekers coming into their communities.”
Sources:
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/27/nx-s1-5241115/us-homeless-hud-housing-costs-migrants
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/us/homelessness-hit-record-level-in-2024.html