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In a pre-holiday press release, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revealed this Homelessness in the United States It has reached a record high.
This troubling milestone is another addition to the Biden administration's lackluster legacy. California Governor Gavin Newsom and sanctuary cities, where progressive blue states are seeing the largest increases and costing Americans millions each year, adding to an already out-of-control debt ceiling.
We know that no one chooses to be homeless, and we know that no one in America deserves to live without a roof over their head, but are these progressive blue states creating an out-of-control spiral of very bad policies?
A homeless man walks in skate line in Los Angeles on December 12, 2022. (Sarah Ringwertz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
According to HUD's annual survey, homelessness rose 18% in 2023 and has increased 36% since 2019. More than 770,000 people in our country have experienced homelessness. Experiencing homelessness In shelters, public places, or other government-supported housing within the past year. However, the report avoids any direct accountability of federal or state policies, instead attributing the crisis to broader social and economic factors.
Growth in homelessness
Comparing the growth of homelessness between red and blue states highlights the stark differences in how these states are handling the crisis.
Between 2019 and 2024, California's homeless population will increase by about 36,000 individuals, an increase of 23.6%. New York grew by nearly 66,000 (71.5%), and Illinois by more than 15,000 (153%). By contrast, the homeless population in Texas increased by just over 2,000 (8.2%) and Florida by about 3,000 (10.7%).
Progressive states like California New York and New York show significantly higher increases in homelessness rates, while red states like Texas and Florida have managed to limit their growth despite facing similar economic and immigration pressures. Why?
Shifting blame
The HUD report identifies several contributing factors, including the national affordable housing crisis, rising inflation, and stagnant wages for middle- and low-income families. Does he mention at all how cities like San Francisco have dramatically increased their homeless population while tech companies have gotten rich in “the city”. There was actually an app developed called SnapCrap for San Francisco because there was so much public feces on the street. This city is a cornerstone of progressive politics and loves the concept of socialism.
HUD also cites systemic racism, public health crises, and natural disasters as primary drivers of homelessness. Well, could there be a state that suffers more natural disasters than Florida?
What's interesting is that Texas and Florida Both states have no state income tax. On the other end of the spectrum, New York, California, and Illinois are three of the states with the highest state income taxes. Blue states would signal the end of pandemic-era welfare programs like expanded child tax credits and a moratorium on child evictions. What they won't point out is their poor tax and spending policies that have dramatically increased the cost of living and driven employers out of their states who then do business in other states.
The cost of caring for one homeless person
Another striking factor is the cost of government programs aimed at addressing homelessness. Blue states tend to spend significantly more per homeless person than red states, and the results are often less effective. In California, they spend nearly four times as much per homeless person as they do in Texas — $45,000 versus 12,000%. New York spends $38,000 and Florida $14,500.
Despite spending much more, blue states have seen a sharp rise in homelessness, demonstrating inefficiency in how resources are allocated and the consequences of bad policy decisions. In comparison, Florida and Texas invest in more targeted programs like addiction treatment and transitional housing, which yield better long-term outcomes in my view.
Immigration and mismanagement
Blue states will largely blame rising rates of homelessness on the heavy influx of large-scale migration. They will say this happened because red states moved immigrants into their areas. These cities never admit that they declared themselves Sanctuary cities Or acknowledge policies that have prevented them from more effectively accommodating this population and have led to widespread mismanagement of homelessness.
What is one of the reasons? Housing begins. Rising housing costs and stricter zoning and environmental regulations in progressive states have directly restricted housing supply and pushed up prices. Over the past year, Texas issued more than 230,000 housing starts permits, and Florida issued more than 190,000 permits. California, New York and Illinois issued, respectively, 117,760, 48,807 and 16,863.
Blue state leadership will say they need more affordable (or period) housing, but housing starts suggest otherwise.
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Ignore the root causes
The “Housing First” approach championed by blue states has failed to produce meaningful results. HUD allocates $72 billion annually – primarily for Affordable housing States like California are spending billions more on similar initiatives. Over the past five years, California alone has spent $24 billion to combat homelessness, but the crisis has worsened. Even with federal waivers allowing California to use Medicaid funds for housing, the state has seen drug rehabilitation centers close due to insufficient state reimbursements.
A more realistic approach
Red states like Florida and Texas have adopted more effective strategies. These states use legal measures such as drug possession and public disorder prosecutions to encourage addicts and mentally ill individuals to seek treatment as an alternative to incarceration. This approach is practical and compassionate, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive assistance while keeping public spaces safe.
In contrast, progressive policies often prioritize expanding housing subsidies without addressing behavioral health challenges. This preference ultimately leaves many homeless individuals to fend for themselves on the streets – a stark contrast to more structured interventions in states like Florida and Texas.
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How do we move forward?
America's homelessness crisis highlights the failure of progressive governance to address complex social issues. No one in this country should be homeless. no one. Adopt a more balanced approach such as those found in Florida and TexasBlue State leadership can better address the root causes of homelessness and provide lasting solutions for its most vulnerable residents.
Let's get a roof over everyone's heads. It all starts with driving!
