Homeless people in the US rise to record levels

The number of homeless people in the US increased to a record high of more than 650,000 people this year, according to a government report released on December 15 (Photo; Detroit News).

The United States had more than 653,100 homeless people in January, according to statistics from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Compared to a year ago, this number increased by 70,650 homeless people, equivalent to an increase of 12%. This is the highest number of homeless people recorded in the US since data collection began in 2007.

New statistics show that African Americans make up 13% of the total US population but account for 37% of the homeless population.

The largest increase in homelessness is among people who identify as Hispanic, increasing 28% in 2022-2023, or 39,106 people.

New statistics also show the number of families with homeless children also increased by 16%, reversing a downward trend since 2012.

Of the more than 653,100 homeless people as of January, six in 10 were living in shelters or other types of temporary facilities. Four in 10 were “in places not meant for human habitation.”

California has the largest homeless population at 181,399 people, according to the report. It is followed by New York (103,200), Florida (30,756), Washington state (28,036), Texas (27,377) and Oregon (20,142).

The homelessness crisis in the US is driven by factors such as poverty, mental health, addiction and lack of housing, according to experts.

The data comes as Americans face rising rates of poverty and food insecurity, USA Today reports. In 2022, the most recent year for which data is available, more than 12% of the country lived below the poverty line, and nearly 13% said they did not have enough to eat.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/so-nguoi-vo-gia-cu-o-my-tang-len-muc-ky-luc-20231216153002263.htm