U.S. Homelessness increased for the second year in a row

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Homelessness in the United States increased for the second year in a row, according to HUD’s 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. Between 2017 and 2018, the number of homeless people on a single night increased by 0.3 percent, totaling a rough estimate of 553,000 individuals — one in every 600 Americans. 

During a press call for the report release, HUD Secretary Ben Carson said the amount of people experiencing homelessness is “largely unchanged,” however, between 2017 and 2018, the number of unsheltered individuals increased by three percent. The number of homeless individuals in the District and 29 states increased between 2017-2018. The 372,417 homeless individuals throughout the United States account for 67 percent of the total homeless population. 

Overall homelessness in the District decreased between 2017-2018, homelessness in the District increased between 2007 and 2018. 

“While these year-to-year numbers are important, the trends overtime can give us a bigger picture of the progress we are making,” Matthew Dougherty, Director of U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness said during the call. 

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