Well, isn’t this a surprise? The United States has reached a new milestone, but not the kind we plaster on billboards. Homelessness has surged to a record high, with over 770,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024—a staggering 18% increase from the previous year. Who could have seen this coming? Oh, that’s right—anyone paying attention to the relentless rise in housing costs.
Let’s break it down. The cost of housing has been climbing like a cat up a tree, and wages? Well, they’re more like the cat’s owner, standing at the bottom, calling softly, and hoping for the best. This disparity has left many hardworking Americans unable to afford a place to live. But don’t worry; we’ve been assured that the economy is doing just fine.
In states like California, the situation is particularly dire. With housing prices soaring and a shortage of affordable options, the Golden State has become a case study in how not to manage housing policy. But it’s not just California. Across the nation, cities are grappling with increasing homelessness, and the common denominator is clear: housing costs that are out of reach for the average citizen.
And shocker, some of the progressive reforms are making the problem worse.
Now, some might argue that this is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. And sure, mental health, addiction, and other personal challenges play a role. But let’s not kid ourselves. When the median rent in many cities requires a six-figure salary to afford comfortably, it’s no wonder people are finding themselves without a roof over their heads.
So, what’s the plan? Are we going to continue to ignore the elephant in the room, or will we address the root cause of this crisis? It’s time for policymakers to take a hard look at the housing market and implement solutions that increase affordability. Otherwise, we can expect these numbers to keep climbing, and future generations will look back and wonder how we let it get this bad.
