Homelessness has jumped in the nation's suburban areas, according to a study from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Of those in U.S. shelters, 32% are in rural or suburban areas.
This new figure is an increase from 23% in 2007. The amount of families in shelters has also risen, from 473,000 in 2007 to 517,000 for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2008.
"'This report dispels the myth that homelessness is exclusively an urban problem,' says HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. 'Today's housing crisis is putting particular pressure on families with children who are living in suburbs and rural areas.'
The HUD report is the first with full-year figures for more than one year. It is based on information collected in 222 communities, including one-day tallies of people living on the street and in shelters as well as annual figures on those in shelters or transitional housing."
FULL STORY: Homelessness in suburbs, rural areas increases

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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