Homelessness Facts: 5 Key Insights for Understanding the Issue

Hear’s a⁢ summary of the key takeaways from the provided text:

Unsheltered Homelessness: Southern and Western states have a substantially higher proportion of ⁣people experiencing homelessness who are unsheltered (living outside, in cars, etc.) compared too the Northeast and Midwest. Despite high overall homelessness rates, New York and Vermont have very low percentages of unsheltered individuals. Factors⁤ like climate, housing costs, shelter availability, and local laws likely contribute⁢ to these differences.

Racial Disparity: A ‍large majority (68%) of people experiencing homelessness in 2024 were people of color. Specifically, White, Hispanic, ⁢and Black individuals⁤ each made up roughly 30% of the ⁢homeless population.⁢ People of⁤ color are disproportionately⁤ represented among ‍those experiencing homelessness compared to their overall population share.

* Health Vulnerabilities: Adults experiencing homelessness are far more likely to struggle with serious ⁢mental illness (SMI), substance‍ use disorder (SUD), and⁢ HIV/AIDS than the general‍ population. (The text cuts off before providing specific percentages for these conditions).

The text also includes links to further⁢ resources from HUD and KFF for more‍ detailed details.