Though it has been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is still faced with the aftermath of the historical economic crisis that occurred during lockdown. In recent years, housing costs have experienced a record spike following these events.
Mental health, drug addiction and a general lack of resources for individuals of lower-incomes has left many at risk of experiencing homelessness. Affordable housing has experienced a rapid decline which only continues to contribute to this risk.
Affordable Housing Shortage
In a report shared by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an alarming shortage of affordable homes has contributed to the rise in people experiencing homelessness.
A major contributor to this increase in unhoused individuals is the growing disparity between social classes. Low-income renters face a shortage of 7.1 million affordable homes, according to a study.
Federal funding for lower-income housing has also seen a decrease in recent years. In May of this year, the Trump administration presented a “skinny budget” proposal which would cut existing housing funds from $58.4 billion to $31.7 billion. If this budget is pursued, housing resources would be reduced from serving 4.5 million to 2.4 million households.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, ¾ of households with a low-income background do not receive federal housing assistance, a number that is predicted to increase if this proposal is pursued.
Lack of Resources
Another contributor to the rise in homelessness stems from a general lack of resources for individuals who face a higher risk of becoming unhoused.
Individuals such as veterans, immigrants and others who face mental health challenges, active addiction or were formerly incarcerated, are more likely to face economic challenges.
Veterans make up 5.3% of the nation’s homeless population where 73% of veterans who are experiencing homelessness are also struggling with substance abuse. As a result of lingering PTSD symptoms, the shortage of affordable housing and access to health care, veterans are often faced with homelessness.
Many individuals move to the United States to seek asylum but are faced with the challenges of inaccessible housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development shares that a recent increase in homelessness relates to the influx of asylum seekers. In a study conducted across 13 communities reportedly affected by migration, they found that family homelessness increased by 39%.
Formerly incarcerated people are of another susceptibility to homelessness. These individuals are more than 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative . In this same report it is stated that, “People who have been to prison just once experience homelessness at a rate nearly seven times higher than the general public.”
Though these groups may be more likely to become unhoused, this risk continues to grow as affordable housing and general resources continue to diminish.
Follow @VALLEYmag on Instagram for more.
Related
Trump’s Executive Orders: The Impact on Penn State
The Price of Protectionism
“Build Back Better” 101: Reasoning and Controversy
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Thanks for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of info in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this blog. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What an ideal site.
You made some decent factors there. I looked on the internet for the difficulty and found most individuals will associate with along with your website.
hello there and thank you to your info – I’ve definitely picked up anything new from proper here. I did alternatively experience some technical issues using this web site, since I experienced to reload the website a lot of times prior to I may get it to load correctly. I have been puzzling over in case your web host is OK? Now not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading cases times will very frequently impact your placement in google and could harm your high quality ranking if advertising and ***********|advertising|advertising|advertising and *********** with Adwords. Well I’m including this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for a lot extra of your respective exciting content. Ensure that you update this once more soon..
I found your weblog site on google and test a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you afterward!…
Hey, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, terrific blog!
I love what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve included you guys to my own blogroll.
I am usually to blogging and i really respect your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and preserve checking for new information.
You are my breathing in, I possess few web logs and occasionally run out from to post .