Homelessness in the U.S. has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels in 2024, marking a second straight year of record-breaking increases. Federal data reveals a perfect storm of financial instability, a surge in asylum seekers, and climate-driven disasters pushing more people onto the streets.
Why It’s Happening
Think of it like a TikTok trend gone wrong—rising rents, stagnant wages, and inflation have left many Americans one emergency away from losing housing. Add extreme weather events displacing communities and an influx of migrants seeking asylum, and you’ve got a crisis that’s spreading faster than a viral dance challenge.
West Coast Ground Zero
Los Angeles reporter Ediz Tiyansan describes tent cities expanding into ‘entire neighborhoods’, with shelters at max capacity. Meanwhile, cities like NYC and Chicago face similar pressures, straining resources and sparking debates about policy solutions.
What’s Next?
Advocates demand urgent federal action, but with election-year politics heating up, cooperation remains as elusive as a quiet DM slide. Stay tuned as this developing story reshapes urban landscapes nationwide.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com