An annual assessment from the Department of Housing and Urban Development shows homelessness grew 2.7 percent from 2018 to 2019, driven largely by a 16.4 percent increase in homelessness in California, according to The New York Times.
The spike in homelessness is due in part to an increase in housing costs, according to the report.
The Trump administration has promised to take action to address the crisis in California. However, steps taken by the administration at the national level have raised concerns among advocates for homeless people, according to the report. These groups alleged the actions taken made it more difficult to prove housing discrimination.
While homelessness rates are rising, some healthcare organizations are stepping in to increase the availability of affordable housing and housing for homeless. For example, Portland, Ore.-based Kaiser Permanente Northwest; Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth; Springfield, Ore.-based PacificSource Health Plans; and Eugene, Ore.-based Trillium Community Health Plan together donated $2.68 million to build an apartment complex for homeless people in Eugene. UnitedHealth Group, too, is expanding its Medicaid housing program to 30 more markets in the new year.
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