Homelessness ticks up for the second year in a row, federal report finds
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The number of homeless Americans crept up in 2018, marking the second year in a row that homelessness in the U.S. has increased, according to a new government report.
A lack of affordable housing has contributed to the slight rise in homelessness, which had declined every year from 2010 to 2016, according to housing advocates and former Department of Housing and Urban Development officials.
“More and more communities are addressing the problems that cause homelessness, but we are losing the battle because of affordability,” said Mel Martinez, former HUD Secretary under President George W. Bush, who added that he was “very disappointed” in the report’s numbers.
The HUD figures are based on a national one-night count conducted every year, which found 550,000 homeless in January 2018.
Overall, homelessness is still down significantly compared to a decade ago. And given the small size of the overall increase in 2018 — 0.3 percent — the Trump administration described the level of homelessness as “largely unchanged” from the previous year.
“Our state and local partners are increasingly focused on finding lasting solutions to homelessness even as they struggle against the headwinds of rising rents,” HUD Secretary Ben Carson said in a statement , which pointed to falling numbers of homeless families with children as well as homeless veterans.
But a rise in individual people who are homeless helped drive the overall increase, particularly among the unsheltered homeless living on the street or in parks, abandoned buildings and other areas, according to the HUD report, which was released on Monday.
“The big problem really seems to be individual adults — that’s where we need to concentrate our efforts. The system to help them is just not as robust,” said Nan Roman, president and CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an advocacy group.
“Families and children are priorities, and there is a lot of political will around veterans. But for individuals, there is not as much public support.”
The problem is particularly acute in western states, said Chad Williams, head of the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, who moved to Las Vegas this year from Washington. “I thought homelessness in D.C. was bad 'til I got here," Williams said.
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It sad in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, that we have homeless, especially families.
And both sides are equally to blame for the extreme wealth disparity in America, right?
Why would anyone blame anyone for that? That is one of the great things about America the sky is the limit. I would never consider living anywhere that they have income equality.
All I`m looking for is a level playing field. The wealthy have rigged the game in their favor and we need the people that we elect to represent our interests, to do whatever is necessary to give all Americans a fair chance at success. One party does this. The other party not only fails to do this, they actively seek to oppress the American people for the benefit of their wealthy overlords.
Since the Republicans have held the majority in Congress and White house for the last 2 years, perhaps you should ask what they have done to improve the lives of people. Democrats couldn't do anything for the last 2 years that the article covers.
I have not seen where the democratic leadership has lobbied for open borders.
Do you have a link Wally? Thanks
signed- your new bestest friend PJ
That's some statement you've made! There are far too many elected representatives that are extremely wealthy - on BOTH sides of the isle...but, I'm open to listening to your explanation as to how only ONE party gives ALL Americans a fair chance at success. What exactly have they done to make this a better place for ALL?
Yet it is only in the last 2 years that homelessness has been rising this much?
WallyW, you REALLY need to update your talking points. Especially since you run and hide every time someone asks you to back up your claims with links.
Well there is the staw ban.... no wait that actually targets minimum age employees for fines.... Theres the attempted texting tax./s
They helped 20 million Americans afford health insurance and got those with pre-existing conditions covered for the first time in their lives. You may not have liked it but it did help millions of Americans. They also helped lower Veteran homelessness by 50% since 2010.
Funny how often that happens and how many sheeple stay willfully ignorant isn't it? I still laugh at how all the dems trumpeted Trumps border security plans just a few years ago before they found out Illegal Immigrants overwhelmingly vote Democrat and now they are trying to convince people border security is racist and the sheeple now trumpet that. You can't even make this stuff up.
And yet you do, weird.
I asked for a link where Democratic leaders have lobbied for open borders.
We already know that there are nut cases in both parties so your link is something that doesn't surprise me.
Where have the democratic leaders tried to pass laws that will open the borders?
Hilarious how many people claim a program that 85%+ of participants need government assistance in order to "afford" it is "affordable". What a flipping joke. It was not disigned to actually work and that's why it didn't. It was designed as a trojan horse for single payer.
Um......since when did either party leaders do what their constituents want? Both are in it for individual gain. Just one part, who is currently in charge, have taken it to a whole knew level and now put Russia above all else.
Come in outta the cold Iceman - you're starting to hallucinate
Wow, you sent links of either right wing author opinion pages, articles from far right media sources, or articles that you didn't bother reading because they do not state what you think they do.
But you have show that you have access to a search engine. So are you going to go back and start submitting links to all the other comment threads that you abandoned as soon as someone calls you out to prove your sources?
You do understand don't you that there is a big difference between "Don't shut our borders" and "Open Borders"? If you cannot understand that basic concept, this conversation is hopeless and over.
And, worse Perrie, is that we have a major political party (who is supposed to be supportive of THEIR constituents) clamoring to help ILLEGAL ALIENS before they even consider helping U. S. Citizens who are homeless.
I know, right. I never thought I'd see the day when one party....cough, cough.... republicans ......cough.... would put Russians before our country's homeless and mentally ill.
Oh......hehehehehe, morning Wally.
Fear not! The democrats will soon be sworn in and take control of the House. Solutions are on the way.
I'm glad you've finally accepted the reality of the situation and are looking to the party that would take on this crisis.
I don't care what they say about you, you're okay in my book.
Touche'
Think of the good the money could do to address this instead of spending it on "the wall".
overpopulation makes this problem worse
I'd lean towards the party that does the least to steal from one and give to another. Around here the stores and ski area pay crappy wages so they want the taxpayers to subsidize the housing of their employees with higher sales taxes. I say let the free market work if they can't get employees without subsidized housing tough titty they will just have to raise their pay not my taxes.
Just curious. Has anyone noticed how well the Dems in CA are handling this?
Even in my state, one of the poorest in the nation, rent is unbelievable. My mortgage payment is actually lower than a lot of apartments around here.
When the average apartment is about 1k a month, it is almost impossible for a homeless person, even getting a minimum wage job to afford one.
It is also hard to get a job when one does not have facilities or many changes of clothes.