Homelessness in the U.S. has risen for a third consecutive year, driven by a spike in California, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in a new report.
By the numbers: The annual HUD single-night survey, conducted in January and released Friday found homelessness increased to 567,715, up 2.7% on 2018.
- Homelessness has decreased in 29 states and Washington, D.C. since 2018 and increased in 21 states.
- The number of veterans listed as homeless dropped 2.1% and homelessness among children declined 4.8%.
- Overall, the number of people listed as homeless has fallen nearly 11% since 2010.
Zoom in: Trump administration and Californian officials have vastly different approaches to tackling the homeless and housing affordability crises. Trump said in September he was considering a task force to address the issue in the state.
- The president signed an executive order in June establishing a White House Council on eliminating regulatory barriers to affordable housing.
- A September report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers places a strong emphasis on criminal justice in tackling the issue of homelessness.
The other side: Californian lawmakers approved legislation in September to cap rent rises at 5% after inflation and expand protections to some 8 million tenants.
- Newsom announced this month $1 billion in funding to fight homelessness, including $650 million in emergency homeless aid.
What they’re saying: President Trump has been scathing in his criticism of how Californian authorities have tackled homelessness, saying the issue is “destroying” cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.
- HUD Secretary Ben Carson continued that attack line in a statement accompanying the latest figures, saying “homelessness in California is at a crisis level and needs to be addressed by local and state leaders with crisis-like urgency.”
- Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) told AP California had “invested an unprecedented $1 billion” to assist communities in dealing with the issue. But he added, “we need the federal government to do its part.”
The bottom line: Per the Washington Post, California’s homeless issue is related to soaring housing costs, mental health and substance abuse issues and “legal hurdles to getting people off the streets — all issues that could complicate federal officials’ ideas to stage an intervention.”
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Source: https://www.axios.com/hud-homelessness-rises-in-us-driven-by-california-f231500a-2fee-4477-813e-e838923e0288.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Rebecca Falconer
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