At the end of last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) released its
2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR): Part 1:
Point-in-Time Estimates. The report provides an annual
snapshot of the number of individuals in shelters, temporary
housing, and unsheltered settings on a single night in January
2024.
Nationwide, the number of people experiencing homelessness on a
single night increased by 18% between 2023 and 2024. Although the
overall number of people experiencing homelessness in California
on a single night also increased, there are multiple bright spots
in the report that show how multi-year investments and regional
efforts are making progress toward reducing the rate of growth in
the number of California’s experiencing homelessness, as well as
successfully reducing rates of homelessness among specific
populations.
Reduction in Homeless Growth: Although there was a
roughly 18% nationwide increase in the overall number of people
experiencing homelessness between 2023 to 2024, California’s
overall growth in people experiencing homelessness grew by only
3% from the previous year. California’s growth rate in the
number of people experiencing homelessness between 2023 and
2024 nearly halved in comparison to the growth rate between
2022 and 2023.
Veterans: Between 2023 and 2024, California had the
largest reduction in the number of veterans experiencing
homelessness in the nation, with 1,279 fewer veterans
experiencing homelessness in CA on a single night in January
2024 than January 2023.
Unaccompanied Youth: Between 2023 and 2024, California
had the largest reduction in the number of unaccompanied youths
experiencing homelessness in the nation, with 1,121 fewer
unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness on a single night
in January 2024 than in January 2024.
While more work is still needed, the 2024 AHAR underscores the
impact targeted and multi-year investments are making in
addressing California’s homelessness crisis through prevention,
regional collaboration, and the availability of shelter and
housing. CSAC will continue to advocate for additional resources
and necessary policy changes as laid out within the AT HOME framework to build on progress
made.
