Half of all U.S. adults report an increase in homelessness in their communities in the past year, with 69% citing rising housing costs as the top reason for the surge. according to a new national survey.
Additionally, 72% of respondents agree that “if my community had more affordable housing options, homelessness would be less of an issue,” according to the poll from the National Alliance to End Homelessness and Morning Consult.
The research underscores how widespread the economic anxiety is around housing. Nearly three-quarters, 74%, of adults say the current economic situation is making housing less affordable, and 48% believe increasing affordable housing should be a top priority for local leaders.
“This polling reinforces what researchers, advocates, and those on the front lines of homeless response have been saying for decades: Homelessness is primarily an economic issue,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “Our leaders have become increasingly unfocused on the economic needs of everyday Americans—in red states and blue alike—and the results clearly indicate anxiety about people’s No. 1 expense: housing.”
In addition, 82% of respondents believe that it should be a priority for leaders to ensure there are affordable housing options in their community, but 58% say there has not been enough investment toward this goal.
“These findings indicate a ripe opportunity for advocates to tap into the simmering frustration over housing costs,” says the report. “Yet, economic narratives continue to revolve around costs of groceries, transportation, and household goods. It is essential that advocates reframe these economic pain points so that the largest expense is centered in these discussions: the cost of housing.”
Read more about the poll.
