A recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has revealed that nearly 10,000 people across Michigan did not have permanent housing in 2024, almost 1,000 more than the year before.
These numbers are over 1% of the entire homeless population across the country.
A part of the recent uptick has to do with the end of the CARES Act funding from the COVID-19 pandemic.
That's according to Jesica Mays, the executive director for the Michigan Balance of State Continuum of Care, the HUD office for 61 of Michigan's 83 counties. She also attributes the increase to a lack of affordable housing across the state.
"We know that full time jobs typically don't pay enough for a lot of folks to securely keep people housed," Mays explained. "In 2024, that report showed that the hourly wage needed to afford a two bedroom unit in Michigan was just over $23. And we know that a lot of jobs don't pay $23 for folks. That's also based on what they call fair market rent costs, which is a federal definition. And most of our housing is priced over what that fair market value is."
Mays says people can help curb this issue by contacting their local state Representative about increasing funding for housing support.
"Let them know we need to make sure we're increasing funding for housing support. Especially those housing choice vouchers (Section 8), because those give the platform for families to build that financial stability so they can leave the program and not become homeless again," May said.
She also says people can reach out to their local community action agencies to help the people in their own communities.
"They can definitely use donations to cover things that our funding can't," Mays said. "Like gas costs when people are searching for housing, just those incidental things that make it or break it for folks to be able to get out there."
If you or a loved one are experiencing homelessness, you can dial 211 for help.
