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Business & Economics

U.S. homelessness surged 18 percent to record level, annual report says

Washington Post
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Housing and Urban Development estimates 771,480 people lacked a permanent address in January .

That's about 23 of every 10,000 people in the U.S. are homeless.

The report attributed the historically high number to a multiyear surge in home prices and fast-rising rent costs.

Unaccompanied youths and children experienced the largest jump in homelessness.

The number of people lacking steady housing surged during the pandemic in cities nationwide.

Indianapolis has tried to tame the crisis by enlisting clinical social workers and “safety ambassadors” to roam downtown streets.

The silver lining: More people had made it off the streets and into temporary shelter.