The recent HUD report indicated a significant rise in homelessness in the U.S., largely attributed to a surge in immigration coinciding with the homeless count period. Many local agencies do not inquire about immigration status, resulting in inflated numbers particularly in states with high immigration, like California. Experts argue the true increase in domestic homelessness might be much lower than reported, with potential for notable changes in future counts as adjustments are made to account for immigration's influence.
"Because they can't disaggregate them and there is no attempt to try to figure out what the migrant population is, it's creating a number that's uninterpretable," said Dennis P. Culhane, professor of social policy at the University of Pennsylvania and a leading national expert on homelessness.
The failure to account for immigration also likely understated the 2.2% decrease the city of Los Angeles reported. The inordinate influence of immigration suggests that year's increase... are aberrations that will lead to a dramatic correction when this year's count is taken this month.
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