Rents over the last two decades have risen much faster than employee pay, contributing to an escalating homelessness crisis in the U.S.

A growing number of Americans are ending up homeless as soaring rents in recent years squeeze their budgets.

According to a Jan. 25 report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, roughly 653,000 people reported experiencing homelessness in January of 2023, up roughly 12% from the same time a year prior and 48% from 2015. That marks the largest single-year increase in the country’s unhoused population on record, Harvard researchers said.

  • space@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    121·
    11 months ago

    How exactly are immigrants who can’t support themselves able to pay rent and put pressure on housing demand?

      • PorradaVFR@lemmy.world
        3·
        11 months ago

        A great point were it not quantifiably true that immigrants have lower per capita rates of criminal activity than citizens. Also, it is perfectly legal to come into the country and ask for asylum (which many are doing), it is further known that there is rampant and illegal employment for migrant workers by agricultural and hospitality industries that rarely suffer any consequences for exploiting and underpaying workers. (See: dollar menu pricing)

        Ignoring the motives behind migration and even worse the lack of funding for enforcement of legislation whose reform is stuck for political reasons blames the victims for their plight.

        But simple explanations are easier, no matter how wrong they may be factually.