Los Angeles has marked a major milestone, with a decline in homelessness for the first time in seven years, even as the United States saw an 18% nationwide surge, according to the latest report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The report based on the January “point-in-time” survey from HUD said there are over 770,000 homeless people in the United States. This is the highest since data collection started in 2007. Among the factors, include less affordable housing, increased rents, and the economic after-effects of the pandemic.
Experts say that while homelessness has risen steadily since 2017, the federal pandemic-era assistance briefly stemmed the tide for a while. Now that those measures have ended, and with inflation and housing costs at their peak, the problem is getting worse fast.
Not so in Los Angeles, where declines buck the national trend in part due to increased investment in subsidized housing and full-service support to the homeless as well as the most vulnerable members of society – veterans.
Indeed, however, HUD’s report does point to a challenge beyond economic factors-increased migration and extreme weather events. In some areas, family homelessness is up sharply in part due to an influx of asylum seekers fleeing unsafe conditions within their home countries.
Advocates are saying that forward-looking solutions need to be balanced and multi-faceted. Even as political leaders have pushed for harsher enforcement against street camping, housing advocates argue that continued investments in affordable housing and holistic support systems must be maintained.
According to HUD officials, conditions may have improved in some areas since the January count because of changes in policy, such as curbing rent increases and addressing migration patterns.
The report underscores a critical juncture in U.S. homelessness policy, emphasizing that sustained efforts are essential to reversing the broader national trend.
To Read More: Global