More funds for the homeless are increased each year. In 2023, the federal government allocated $8.732 billion for homelessness assistance programs. This represents an increase of 10.2% from 2022. The increase in funding is due to a number of factors, including the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, the increasing cost of housing, and the political will to address the issue.
According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there were an estimated 582,462 people experiencing homelessness in the United States on a single night in January 2023. This represents an increase of about 2,000 people from the previous year. The number of people experiencing homelessness has been increasing since 2016.
$8.732 billion Fed / 582,462 homeless = $14,991 for each homeless person. (not counting state, private funds)
In addition to federal funding, there are also significant amounts of private funding for homelessness assistance. In 2020, giving to human services totaled $65.14 billion. While not all of these funds went to homeless services specifically, we know that a portion of these funds includes philanthropy benefiting homeless services.
The increase in funding for homelessness assistance is a positive step, but it is not enough to end homelessness. More needs to be done to address the root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, lack of affordable housing, and mental illness. However, the increase in funding is a sign that the government and private donors are committed to addressing this issue.
Here are some of the organizations that are working to end homelessness:
- National Alliance to End Homelessness
- Family Promise
- Coalition for the Homeless
- Covenant House
- StandUp for Kids
- U.S. Veterans Initiative
If you are interested in getting involved in the fight to end homelessness, you can contact one of these organizations or donate to their cause.
