America’s Rising Homelessness Crisis: Can It Be Solved?

By Zikora Akanegbu

In Portland, Maine, a man carries a sleeping bag at a homeless encampment.

Robert F. Bukaty/AP

I. Introduction

The number of Americans living without homes, in shelters, or on the streets continues to rise at an alarming rate. In fact, in 2022 there were approximately 582,462 homeless people living in the United States (Department of Housing and Urban Development). It is important to note that it is difficult to count the number of people who are unsheltered because some individuals live in their cars, couch surf, or live in properties that are difficult to access. Housing insecurity disproportionately harms low-income people, people of color, indigenous peoples, women, LGBTQ people, and immigrant communities. Furthermore, those experiencing homelessness have varied and complicated stories and they include victims of domestic violence, the mentally or physically ill, and veterans. 

In addition, even those who are employed with a stable job cannot always afford to pay rent. For every $100 increase in median rent, homelessness increases by nine percent (National Alliance to End Homelessness). In other words, as rent prices are increasing across the United States, so has the homeless population. People who are currently paying too much for rent, having trouble finding a place to live, or are facing eviction are at risk of becoming homeless. 

The underlying problem of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing (The Pew Charitable Trusts). Some people work several jobs and long hours to avoid the possibility of eviction. When someone has a limited income to begin with and they are paying so much of it to keep a roof over their head, they are one financial shock away from missing rent, potentially facing eviction, and in worst cases becoming homeless. This raises an important question: how did a nation with such wealth and prosperity end up with millions of people living on the streets with no roof above their head? In this essay, I will dive deep into America’s homelessness crisis, and what can be done about it. 

II. Addressing Homelessness Among New York City Youth 

In New York City, the harsh reality of homelessness stands in stark contrast to the image of prosperity. New York City is home to the second highest population of homelessness in the United States (U.S. News & World Report). In September 2023, there were approximately 87,907 individuals in New York City living without homes (Coalition For The Homeless). Although this statistic is alarming, it likely understates the true extent of the crisis due to inadequate data collection. An accurate count of New York City’s houseless population remains elusive which results in underreporting and underfunding, perpetuating the cycle of homelessness. 

Nearly forty percent of New York City’s houseless individuals are children (Daniel Neiditch Charitable Foundation) who are struggling to survive instead of experiencing the security and stability of youth. Roughly 1,000 youth are discharged from New York City’s foster care system each year (A Better Childhood) and one in four youth find themselves homeless within four years of leaving within the system (NPR). New York City stands tall as a hub for non-profit organizations with over 35,000 in operation (Independent Sector). These organizations are incredibly diverse in their missions with many of them focusing their efforts on social welfare programs, specifically addressing homelessness. Despite the large number of resources, the homelessness crisis in New York City remains largely unabated. With such an abundance of resources, why does the problem of homelessness persist in New York City? The answer lies in how although resources are bountiful in the city for the fight against homelessness, their access is complicated and insufficient.

Making significant headway in tackling homelessness requires an approach that is not only resource-abundant but also innovative and inclusive. As such, ClearPath New York City developed a platform to address the most pressing needs for those experiencing homelessness in the city. ClearPath NYC is a non-profit initiative led by young people, for young people. It has taken matters into its own hands to radically change how New York City’s youth and young adults access social wellness resources. ClearPath NYC makes it possible for the city’s youth to be able to instantly connect with the wide-ranging resources available across the city. The platform bridges the gap to essential services for housing, mental wellness, academic, and professional development. In addition, the platform caters to a variety of needs from shelters and mental wellness services to food resources, academic support, and job opportunities (ClearPathNYC). ClearPath NYC’s mission is clear: eliminate barriers to ultimately encourage individual empowerment in the pursuit of socio-economic stability.

III. Housing First: A Proven Solution to Homelessness 

Many states in America approach homelessness with the idea that the person living on the street should sort out their problems first while living at a shelter. Then, they can get access to permanent housing. This has been called the staircase approach because the homeless person is expected to gradually move up through different levels. Homeless people are expected to make progress on any mental health or addiction issue they may have and must pass a certain standard before being housed. Only once they have demonstrated some change, which is difficult to achieve without housing stability, then permanent housing can be their final reward (European Observatory on Homelessness). The problem with the staircase approach is that it is not very effective. Quitting drugs or managing serious mental health issues is difficult for people who have a home. In other words, people who are experiencing homelessness are expected to do what many people who live with the stability of permanent housing cannot even do. It is not surprising that most homeless people get stuck on one level of the staircase as they fail to complete the tasks to move forward. 

Finland realized that the traditional staircase approach is not very effective. In 2007, the Finnish government instituted a ‘Housing First’ program (Connecticut General Assembly) which is a unique program for getting homeless people off the streets and back into society. Housing First follows two tenants: first, the most effective solution to homelessness is permanent housing; secondly, all housing for the homeless should be provided immediately without any preconditions, such as employment. The way Housing First programs work is simple: people who are experiencing homelessness receive independent housing in the form of small individual apartments that are looked after by a team of about twenty on-site social workers. The social workers provide support with everything from job hunting to getting access to addiction or mental health treatments. Over time, the newly housed begin to finance part of the cost of their housing to the degree that they can afford it (The Homeless Hub). 

During the late 1980s, there were more than 16,000 homeless people in Finland. According to national estimates, this statistic has decreased to just 4,000 in 2020 (Ecoscope). In the country’s capital, Helsinki, no one sleeps on the street because that type of homelessness has been completely eliminated (BBC). Between 2010 and 2018, Finland had a thirty-nine percent decline in their homelessness rate (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). Critics of Housing First argue that it may not be as cost effective as it seems. However, a study of financial costs shows that Finland saves up to 15,000 euros annually on every homeless person it houses (World Habitat). The Finnish government does spend a lot of money on buying apartments and turning them into housing for homeless people as well as heavily subsidizing the rent that they pay, and employing many social workers. However, these costs are cheaper than the cost of emergency care, policing, and all the costs that come with having homeless people living on the streets. Ultimately, housing people saves money in the long term on comparatively expensive policing which declines when people’s needs are taken care of preventatively. 

It is important to acknowledge that it is not easy to simply take what Finland is doing and apply it somewhere else. For example, in 2016 California adopted the Housing First initiative statewide but it has not seen the same results as Finland (CATO Institute). California has strict development rules and expensive real estate. Although Finland has some unique advantages, the Housing First model can be applied elsewhere but in order to be successful, it requires a lot of invested resources, the ability to commit long-term, and it needs to be a part of a wider well-functioning system of social safety nets that help people from getting off the ground. 

Tents belonging to homeless people residing in low-income regions of San Francisco, California on May 16, 2023.

Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The Biden Administration showed a return to the Housing First approach. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 included 70,000 emergency housing vouchers and 350 billion dollars in state and local fiscal recovery funds in an effort to aid homelessness and housing instability across the country (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). 

IV. Voting Barriers Homeless Citizens Face 

In a typical election year, about one in ten people experiencing homelessness vote (National Coalition For The Homeless). People who are homelessness can register and vote in all fifty states. However, the number of people experiencing homelessness that vote is low due to the several obstacles that prevent them from becoming registered, active voters. One of these obstacles is not having a mailing address. Voters are required to have proof of address in order to register to vote. Since people who are experiencing homelessness do not have a permanent address, on the federal voter registration form and on many state forms they can put the address of a homeless shelter, a bus station, a park bench, or a street corner. In Oregon, homeless voters are allowed to use the county election office’s address as their mailing address (Oregon State Government). However, without a mailing address people experiencing homelessness are less likely to receive flyers about elections and campaigns to be able to learn about the candidates that are running for office.

In addition to proof of address, in many states proof of identity is often needed for voter registration to prove the prospective voter’s U.S. citizenship and age. The majority of U.S. states require voters to show a state-issued ID, birth certificate, social security card, or a driver's license before they can register to vote. However, those who are homeless may not be able to easily obtain IDs or may lose them. 

People experiencing homelessness face additional barriers, such as difficulty accessing resources to learn about voting. They are also less likely to have reliable transportation or resources to be able to go to the polls. For instance, they are less likely to have the money to pay for a bus ticket or taxi. The issue of transportation is exacerbated if public transportation is not conveniently located near polling sites. It is important that people from historically disenfranchised populations, including people experiencing homelessness and low-income tenants, are able to exercise their right to vote.

V. Conclusions and Proposed Solutions 

The United States has long relied on the staircase approach to homelessness which requires those who are unhoused to meet specific requirements, such as sobriety or completion of treatment, in order to qualify for a home. However, the best way to end homelessness is by simply getting people into housing as quickly as possible. 

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does fund certain programs intended to address homelessness; however, these programs are robust in only a few cities and states. No matter the nature of the program – whether it is Housing First or another program – funding is far too low. The HUD’s budget and municipal aid funds have steadily declined over time. As a result, programs scrape together a budget from the general public and several different local and federal funds, rarely ever amounting to what they need to provide effective services (HUD Office of Policy Development and Research). To effectively address the homelessness crisis in America, the Housing First initiative should be implemented in numerous communities across the nation because it tremendously benefits those experiencing homelessness by allowing them to no longer live on the streets. In our society housing should be a right and not a privilege; every American deserves a safe and stable place to call home. 

Legislators should develop close relationships with organizations that have the mission of helping people who are experiencing homelessness. They can require that voting services are made accessible to those who do not have stable housing. Since people experiencing homelessness may have difficulty getting to a polling site on Election Day, there should be an increased number of early voting options available to allow them to have more time to register to vote and get to a polling site. Furthermore, homeless people who would like to vote by mail or absentee would benefit from laws that allow others to collect and return their ballots as well as better access to stamps and drop-off locations. Additionally, there should be an increase in the number of polling sites available on Election Day, especially in areas where many people experiencing homelessness tend to be. Polling sites such as libraries, shelters, or food banks could increase voter turnout among the homeless population. Local governments and states should urgently step forward and find ways to make it easier for their homeless residents to vote. People who are experiencing homelessness deserve to have a voice in shaping their future.

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