(The Center Square) – Colorado has recently seen a spike in the number of families with children experiencing homelessness.
Colorado saw a 134% increase (4,878 people to 8,519 people) in the number of people in families with children experiencing homelessness from January 2023 to January 2024, according to the 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Colorado experienced the third-largest increase in the United States, behind Illinois (234.3%) and Hawaii (187%). Chicago is facing a migrant crisis that has overwhelmed its shelter system. Meanwhile, Hawaii has long struggled with exorbitant housing costs.
In Colorado, the increasing homelessness among people in families with children also comes as the Denver housing market becomes increasingly unaffordable, according to the Common Sense Institute.
Denver and its neighboring communities have seen demand for housing skyrocket while builders fail to keep up.