Homelessness Is Falling Despite Worsening Conditions. Why?

In 2015, compared to 2009, the nation had more people and lower incomes, but higher rents. All things being equal, the number of people who are homeless should have gone up. But it did not. It went down. What changed, and what's next?

1 minute read

August 21, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By TLC_Shelter

Ed Yourdon / Flickr

Between 2009 and 2015 (our most recent numbers) we have:

Reduced homelessness by 10 percent
Reduced homelessness among individual adults by 9 percent
Reduced family homelessness by 13 percent
Reduce chronic homelessness by 22 percent
Reduced the number of people who are unsheltered by 24 percent
Reduced veteran homelessness by 35 percent

During this same period:

The population went up 5 percent
The rental vacancy rates fell to 7.1 percent
Average rents have gone up
Median household income went down 3 percent

So there were more people, lower incomes, but higher rents. All things being equal, the number of people who are homeless should have gone up. But it did not. It went down. Why? Because of your work. And . . .

FULL STORY: Homelessness Is Falling Despite Worsening Conditions. Why?

Thursday, August 11, 2016 in Shelterforce/Rooflines

Housing United States Homelessness Affordable Housing Housing Crisis

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