U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the latest Annual Homelessness Assessment Report to Congress

Last Friday, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the latest Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, and the results for Oklahoma, as well as the rest of the country, were – are – alarming. AHAR shows a 17% spike in homelessness from 2023 to 2024, meaning more than 5,400 Oklahomans are living without stable housing.?

Just three days from now, the state’s first arctic blast will sweep through, further endangering the most vulnerable population.?

It’s imperative to note that these numbers reflect the countable individuals experiencing homelessness. In 2020, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a study indicating that HUD’s point-in-time count likely underestimates the true number due to the inherent difficulty of identifying every individual experiencing homelessness. Nonetheless, the report is critical to assessing and addressing trends in the rates and causes of homelessness. Key findings and a link to the report are below.?

AHAR Key Findings?

The number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States reached an all-time high in 2024, with 771,480 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night. This represents about 23 of every 10,000 people in the country. Various factors contributed to this surge, including the ongoing affordable housing crisis, rising inflation, stagnant wages, and the continuing impacts of systemic racism. These challenges, coupled with the additional burdens of public health crises, natural disasters displacing people, increasing immigration, and the cessation of pandemic-era homelessness prevention programs, have strained the homelessness support system. The end of measures such as the expanded child tax credit further exacerbated these pressures.?

Homelessness affected nearly all demographic groups, with all populations reaching record numbers. Among these, families with children saw the largest increase, with 39 percent more people in families experiencing homelessness between 2023 and 2024. Overall, the total number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 18 percent, which includes nearly 150,000 children. This group, which had the largest growth in homelessness, saw an increase of 33 percent, with more than 32,000 additional children experiencing homelessness in 2024 compared to the previous year.?

While most groups saw increases, veterans were the only population to report a decline in homelessness. The number of veterans experiencing homelessness decreased by 8 percent from 2023 to 2024, representing 2,692 fewer veterans. This marks a 55 percent reduction in veteran homelessness since data collection began in 2009, a decline attributed to targeted efforts and sustained funding aimed at reducing homelessness among veterans.?

The aging population is also significantly impacted by homelessness. People aged 55 or older made up approximately one-fifth of the total homeless population in 2024. More than 104,000 individuals between 55 and 64, and more than 42,000 people aged 65 and older, were counted as experiencing homelessness. Notably, nearly half (46%) of older adults facing homelessness were unsheltered, living in places not meant for human habitation.?

Racial disparities in homelessness also persist. While Black people make up 12 percent of the U.S. population and 21 percent of those living in poverty, they represent 32 percent of the homeless population. However, the share of homeless individuals who identify as Black decreased slightly from 37 percent in 2023 to 32 percent in 2024. This overrepresentation of Black people in the homeless population reflects the ongoing impact of systemic inequalities.?

Chronic homelessness continues to be a significant issue, with one-third of individuals (152,585 people) experiencing chronic homelessness in 2024. This marks the highest number of people with chronic homelessness ever recorded. Chronic homelessness has increased by 27 percent since data collection began in 2007, and more than 65 percent of these individuals were unsheltered, a number that has also reached record highs.?

The availability of emergency shelter beds increased by 13 percent between 2023 and 2024, with a notable 18 percent rise in emergency shelter beds alone. In contrast, transitional housing beds continued to decline, dropping 4 percent from the previous year and by 60 percent since 2007. However, this decrease is partly due to some transitional housing programs shifting to emergency shelter models or transitioning to permanent housing solutions like rapid rehousing. Despite these changes, the overall inventory of emergency shelter beds has grown significantly, doubling since 2007.?

On the other hand, permanent housing options for people who were formerly without housing represent a substantial portion of the national bed inventory. Nearly 60 percent of available beds are designated for individuals who have previously experienced homelessness. Programs such as rapid rehousing (RRH), permanent supportive housing (PSH), and other permanent housing solutions now account for 57 percent of the total housing inventory. Between 2023 and 2024, the total inventory for these permanent housing options increased by 3 percent, with the most significant growth seen in other permanent housing programs (14,735 more beds). This growth reflects significant investment in programs like the Emergency Housing Voucher program.?

While the number of PSH beds has more than doubled since 2007, there are still areas where the demand for permanent housing exceeds the supply, highlighting a persistent gap in housing availability for those transitioning out of homelessness.?

The state of homelessness in the U.S. has reached alarming levels in 2024, with increases across nearly all demographic groups. The causes of this rise are multifaceted, including economic and systemic factors, along with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. While there have been some improvements in providing housing solutions, especially permanent housing for those who have experienced homelessness, the overall system remains under significant strain, and the need for more comprehensive and sustained solutions is critical.?

References

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR to Congress) Part 1: Point-In-Time Estimates of Homelessness, December 2024.” HUD User, 27 December 2024, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf. Accessed 2 January 2025.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “HUD 2024 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Homeless Populations and Subpopulations.” 27 December 2024. Accessed 2 January 2025.

U.S. Government Accountability Officer. “Homelessness: Better HUD Oversight of Data Collection Could Improve Estimates of Homeless Population.” GAO, 14 July 2020. Accessed 2 January 2025.