New HUD Data Show Dramatic Increase in Youth and Families in Homeless Shelters
New HUD Data Show Dramatic Increase in Youth and Families in Homeless Shelters, Even While Significantly Undercounting Youth and Families Experiencing Homelessness
On December 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its 2023 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part I (AHAR). The report shows a 12% increase in the overall number of people in homeless shelters, or people who were in a visibly unsheltered situation, on a single night in January, as compared with the previous year’s HUD data.
Among all populations, the greatest increases were:
Unaccompanied youth – a 15% increase over the previous year
Families with children – a 16% increase over the previous year
These increases are all the more concerning because HUD data represent a very small fraction of the number of children, youth, and families who experience homelessness. The takeaway from the HUD data is clear: without urgent action now to remove barriers to existing resources, and to prioritize children, youth, and families for new resources, homelessness will continue to skyrocket for all populations. Learn about critical legislation Congress should pass and take action.
When reviewing the new HUD report and media coverage, it’s important to keep in mind that HUD data does not paint the full picture of homelessness for children, youth and families and only attempts to capture data of those who access shelters and those experiencing visible homelessness during the night in January. Learn more about the Pitfalls of HUD’s Point-in-Time Count for Children, Youth and Families Experiencing Homelessness.
The bottom line is that if urgent action is not taken now to amend existing programs and policies to remove barriers and to prioritize children, youth, and families for new resources, homelessness will continue to skyrocket for all populations. There is a strong correlation between childhood and adolescent homelessness and adult homelessness. Thus, ignoring children and youth now is a recipe for continued adult homelessness far into the future.
Congressional Caucuses Send Letter to FHFA Urging Agency to Take “Bold Action” on Tenant Protections
The Congressional Progressive Caucus, along with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – together known as the Tri-Caucus – sent a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Sandra Thompson urging her agency to take “bold action…to require clear, strong, and enforceable protections for tenants living in Enterprise-backed properties.” The letter calls for FHFA to require and enforce six protections: anti-rent gouging protections, “good cause” eviction standards, source-of-income protections, habitability and accessibility requirements, rental registry participation requirements, and limits on artificial intelligence (AI) to curb rent spikes.
Led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), the letter calls for bold action to implement renter protections for all households living in properties with Enterprise-backed mortgage. The letter recognizes the high cost of housing for America’s lowest-income and most marginalized renters, drawing a direct connection to racial inequities and homelessness. “In the worst cases, individuals and families are being forced into homelessness, living in tents, cars, or shelters,” the letter states. “The rent inflation crisis is an issue of racial and economic justice. Black, Hispanic, and Asian American renters are more likely to be severely cost burdened than white renters.” The letter urges FHFA to act in coordination with Congressional action. The letter continues: “In addition to the work that lies ahead for Congress, the FHFA must use every tool available to ensure stability and affordability for tenants. Given the broad reach of FHFA’s work, any tenant protections created by FHFA should cover a significant share of tenants across the nation and put America on a pathway towards stronger protections for all tenants.”
The letter was signed by chairs of each caucus: Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) representing the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), representing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC); and Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV), representing the Congressional Black Caucus.
Read the letter to FHFA at: https://tinyurl.com/5y57ddn2