MILWAUKEE – Homelessness declined in Wisconsin while overall homelessness slightly increased nationally, according to the latest national estimate by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In Wisconsin, HUD reports local communities reported 5,027 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2017, a decline of 11.6 percent since last year and 20.6 % since 2010. Homelessness among families with children in 2017 (2,382), declined by 14.9 percent (or 417) since 2016 and declined by 27.7 percent (911) since 2010.
Meanwhile, local communities in Wisconsin report the overall number of persons experiencing long-term chronic homelessness has increased 19.6 percent (71) and veterans experiencing homelessness decreased by nearly 21 percent from 2016 and decreased by 46 percent since 2010.
“In many high-cost areas of our country, especially along the West Coast, the severe shortage of affordable housing is manifesting itself on our streets,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson in a news release. “With rents rising faster than incomes, we need to bring everybody to the table to produce more affordable housing and ease the pressure that is forcing too many of our neighbors into our shelters and onto our streets. This is not a federal problem—it’s everybody’s problem.”
“All individuals deserve to have a safe and decent place to call home,” said Deputy Regional Administrator James A. Cunningham. “While we have made significant strides in reducing the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, we must remain committed to implementing strategies that make it a rare, brief and non-recurring event.”
HUD’s national estimate is based upon data reported by approximately 3,000 cities and counties across the nation.
