The U.S. Department of Housing reported on Friday that the number of homeless individuals in the United States has reached 770,000 in 2024, marking an 18% increase from 2023.

This rise is attributed to several factors, including the lack of affordable housing, inflation, immigration, the cessation of some pandemic-related assistance, and natural disasters such as the Maui wildfires and hurricanes Helen and Milton.

Additionally, the department noted that 32% of the homeless population are African Americans. The count was conducted in January 2023, so it may not reflect the current situation.