The National Crisis of Homelessness
A national crisis has emerged over the lack of safe, affordable housing. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that 653,104 Americans were homeless on a single night in 2023—the highest number ever recorded. At the same time, research is increasing in recognition of homelessness as a complex problem with many causes and impacts that go beyond housing insecurity. For example, people who experience homelessness are more likely to have poor health outcomes, including a greater prevalence of mental illness and substance use problems. They also tend to have limited access to job training and a more difficult time obtaining jobs that pay high enough wages to afford adequate housing.
The causes of homelessness vary from person to person. Generally, the problem begins with a loss of income or employment due to a change in financial circumstances such as a disconnection of public benefits, reduced hours at work, unexpected expenses for healthcare or repair, or an increase in rent that cannot be covered by available funds. A shortage of affordable housing, particularly in metropolitan areas, is a significant cause of homelessness. People who become homeless often are stigmatized and discriminated against, resulting in barriers to employment, health care and social services. They may be at risk of physical injury or death from exposure to extreme temperatures and are at higher risk for infectious diseases, such as influenza, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS.
There are a wide variety of strategies that can help prevent or reduce homelessness, but there is a need for more investment in housing, more research to identify effective programs and policies, and better education on the problem among school leaders, business leaders, and government officials. Grassroots groups and interest organizations are working to break stereotyped images of homeless people as weak and hapless, or defiant criminals and drug users, and to ensure that the voices of those who are homeless are heard by policymakers.
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of State governments to ensure that all people have access to housing that is adequate, affordable and secure, in conformity with international human rights obligations. While many States have made progress in reducing homelessness, there is still a need for States to use the maximum resources at their disposal to satisfy this obligation. This requires that State governments provide adequate funding for housing and other related services for homeless persons. They should also establish a system of monitoring to determine whether they have taken all reasonable steps to reduce and eliminate homelessness in their jurisdictions.