Record High Homelessness in America Under Biden-Harris Administration

According to the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there were 653,104 homeless Americans in 2023. This figure represents a significant increase, marking the sixth consecutive year that homelessness levels have risen.

Increasing Rates of Homelessness

While the growth in homelessness was relatively slow in 2017 and 2018, it increased more rapidly in 2019 and 2020. The most significant rise, however, was in 2023, when the number of homeless individuals grew by 12 percent compared to the previous year. This figure was also 10 percent higher than the average for the period from 2007 to 2022.

Factors Contributing to Rising Homelessness

Several factors contributed to the rise in homelessness. As protection programs implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic expired and a cost-of-living crisis hit the country, the number of homeless individuals increased. Additionally, as Covid-19 restrictions on shelter capacity were lifted, more homeless people were able to access shelters.

Sheltered and Unsheltered Homeless Populations

During the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the increase in homelessness came from individuals who were not housed. In 2023, the number of people living in shelters rose by nearly 14 percent, while the number of unhoused individuals increased by less than 10 percent. Despite these changes, the proportion of the homeless population living in shelters remained steady at around 60-61 percent since the start of the pandemic.

Homelessness Levels Surpass Great Recession Records

Despite previous increases, the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January (when the count is carried out) had always remained below the levels seen during the Great Recession. These levels were highest in 2007 when data collection first began. However, the figure for 2023 surpassed this record, exceeding it by 1 percent.

Bottom Line

The rising number of homeless individuals in America is a concerning trend that has been exacerbated by the expiration of Covid-19 protection programs and a growing cost-of-living crisis. The fact that homelessness levels have now surpassed those seen during the Great Recession is particularly alarming. What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you think more should be done to address homelessness in America? Share this article with your friends and let us know your thoughts. Also, don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.