Homelessness in the USA was the highest ever on record in 2023

They include plumbers, casino supervisors, pizzeria managers, and factory workers. They deliver groceries, sell eyeglasses, and unload trucks at Amazon.

And they represent the new, unexpected face of homelessness: Working Americans with decent-paying jobs who can’t afford housing.

Homelessness, already at a record high last year, seems to be increasing among employed individuals as housing becomes increasingly unattainable for low-wage earners. Recent shelter interviews and rising eviction and homelessness statistics reveal this troubling trend. The latest point-in-time counts—a snapshot of homelessness on a single night—show noticeable increases in many areas across the U.S., including Southeast Texas (up 61% from last year), Rhode Island (up 35%), and northeast Tennessee (up 20%).