U.S. homelessness increased for 4th consecutive year

What they're saying: “The findings of the 2020 AHAR Part 1 Report are very troubling, even before you consider what COVID-19 has done to make the homelessness crisis worse,” HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge said in a statement.

• "Housing should be a right, not a privilege, and ensuring that every American has a safe, stable home is a national imperative," she added.

By the numbers: On a single night in 2020, roughly more than 580,400 people experienced homelessness across the U.S.

• 61% stayed in shelters while the remaining 39% were in unsheltered locations, such as on the street or in abandoned buildings.
• The report also found that homelessness among families remained essentially the same compared to 2019 with fewer than 172,000 people in families with children experiencing homelessness.

• Homelessness among veterans did not improve either despite significant drops in the number of homeless vets in prior years.
• The 2.2% increase from 2019 represented 12,751 more people.

The big picture: HUD said it would explore the pandemic's effect on homelessness in future reports.

• The Biden administration's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill passed this month includes $50 billion in essential housing and homelessness assistance, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.