America
BY THE NUMBERS
771,480 Total homeless in
2024, 18% increase over prior year.
150,000 Children homeless in
2024, 33% increase
over prior year. SOURCE: Department of Housing and Urban Development
to alcohol and drugs, have long been cited as primary triggers that lead to homelessness. This year, however, conservative analysts and federal officials are pointing to anoth- er factor as well: the unprecedented flood of
Homeless Crisis Slams U.S.
Biden migrant surge fuels record numbers sleeping on streets.
T O BY DAVID A. PATTEN
he number of people liv- ing on the streets jumped by over 118,000 last year, the final year of the Biden
administration, setting a new record for homelessness. The greatest jump occurred among
families with children. Between 2023 and 2024, they experienced a 33% homelessness jump — and many of
VA Finds Solution That Works for Vets
ne bright spot: Homelessness among
military veterans is at its lowest level since recordkeeping began in 2007. From January 2023 to
January 2024, the number of veterans out on the street each
20 NEWSMAX | MAY 2025
them were illegal migrants. A new report by the U.S. Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Devel- opment states that 771,480 people in the United States were homeless during its annual “snapshot” assess- ment — the highest number since record-keeping began in 2007. But other sources estimate the
actual homeless population is closer to 1.5 million. Among the factors: rising inflation, stagnant middle- class wages, dwindling coronavirus subsidies, and the affordable hous- ing crisis. Mental illness, along with addictions
night dipped from 35,574 to 32,882. Overall, there’s been a decline of over 50% in veteran homelessness since 2010. So, what is the Department
of Veterans Affairs doing right? One factor: The “housing
first” model that has failed the general population of homeless people actually works for vets. Once placed into housing,
they find themselves back in the company of other veterans
migrants that streamed across the border under Joe Biden. Three blue states — Illinois, Mas- sachusetts, and New York, all of which include large “sanctuary cit- ies” — accounted for almost two- thirds of the increase last year. After years of estimating there
were some 14 million illegal immi- grants in the United States, the pro- border security Federation for Amer- ican Immigration Reform (FAIR) now estimates that the United States has 18.6 million illegal aliens. FAIR reports the U.S. illegal
migrant population jumped by 4.1 million during the Biden administra- tion — a 28.2% increase. For decades, federal and state offi-
cials have relied on a “housing first” model to combat homelessness, get- ting a roof over their heads, then addressing other needs. Heritage Research fellow Rachel
Sheffield says that until issues like drug addiction, unemployment, and mental illness are addressed, putting homeless people into shelters and temporary housing won’t solve soci- ety’s larger problems.
able to provide emotional support and encouragement. The VA also emphasizes
its “wraparound services” including healthcare, job training, and legal assistance. VA Secretary Doug Collins
hopes to trim 80,000 of the VA’s 412,000 employees as part of the Trump administration’s overall push to cut the deficit. Democrats warn that could drive veteran homelessness
back up, but Collins dismisses that as fearmongering. “Once people get through
the bureaucracy of our system, they like the facilities,” he said during a visit to Nashville along with GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn. “They like having their
doctor of choice, they like my VA employees because they actually work for them, and they love getting their benefits.” — D.P.
CARLOS MORENO/ANADOLU VIA GETTY IMAGES
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