The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's "2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report" comes with significant caveats about partial data and changing homeless shelter practices.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1 to Congress on Friday, February 4, 2022. Part 1 of the AHAR provides Point-in-Time (PIT) estimates, offering a snapshot of homelessness on a single night. Part 2 provides estimates of homelessness in the United States, but HUD has not produced a Part 2 of the report since 2018, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the HUD Exchange website.
According to a February 4 HUD press release, the report counts more than 326,000 people experiencing sheltered homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2021. The figure represents an eight percent decrease from 2020. "'Sheltered homelessness' refers to people experiencing homelessness who were found in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or other temporary settings," according to the press release.
HUD did not require communities to count unsheltered homeless in 2021 due to the public health concerns of the Covid-19 pandemic. A count of unsheltered homeless is reported in the AHAR, but with the caveat of the reported total being an estimate based on partial data. With that caveat in mind, the number of unsheltered homeless stayed relatively flat in 2021 compared to 2020.
The pandemic resulted in considerable changes to the practices of homeless service providers. "To promote the safety of people staying in shelter programs, most emergency shelters reduced occupancy to respond to CDC recommendations on COVID-19 safety measures," according to the press release. Those changes warrant caution about comparing Part 1 of this year's report to previous years.
HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge is quoted in the press release touting the results of the report. "The findings of the 2021 AHAR Part 1 report suggest that federal COVID-19 relief had positive impacts on sheltered homelessness," said Secretary Fudge.
FULL STORY: HUD Releases 2021 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions