HUD Releases 2024 Annual Homelessness Report Highlighting Progress and Challenges
The point-in-time count shows an 18% increase in homelessness amid efforts to address the crisis.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has published its 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report: Part 1, offering a detailed snapshot of homelessness across the nation based on January 2024 data. The report revealed over 770,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night, reflecting an 18% increase compared to 2023. However, HUD notes that the data may not fully represent current circumstances due to recent policy changes and interventions.
Veteran homelessness reached a historic low, with an 8% decrease from 2023 to 2024, dropping to 32,882 individuals. The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program connected nearly 90,000 veteran households to stable housing, while the Department of Veterans Affairs permanently housed nearly 48,000 veterans in FY2024.
Several cities reported significant progress:
Dallas, TX: A 16% reduction in homelessness due to initiatives like the Street to Home Initiative.
Los Angeles, CA: Unsheltered homelessness decreased by 5%, thanks to expanded housing availability.
Chester County, PA: Homelessness decreased by nearly 60% since 2019, with efforts focused on eviction prevention and housing-first strategies.
Migration-related pressures doubled family homelessness in 13 affected communities, compared to an 8% rise in other areas. Recent border security measures and reduced asylum-seeker numbers have since stabilized the situation in cities like Chicago and Denver.
The Maui wildfire in Hawai’i displaced over 5,200 people, underscoring the link between natural disasters and rising homelessness.
HUD outlined numerous funding efforts in 2024 aimed at tackling homelessness:
Over $3.16 billion in Continuum of Care program funding.
$290 million in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG).
$85 million through the PRO Housing program to address land-use barriers and expand housing.
$175 million to build Permanent Supportive Housing, with awards expected in 2025.
$72 million in Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) funding to assist homeless youth.
$225 million through the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Program.
HUD Agency Head, Adrianne Todman, emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to ending homelessness, “No American should face homelessness. This data, while dated, reminds us to focus on evidence-based solutions. Our reduction of veteran homelessness by over 55% since 2010 proves we can achieve significant progress.”
HUD highlighted upcoming opportunities to further address homelessness, including collaborative programs with the Department of Health and Human Services and repurposing federal properties for housing.