An increasing number of American workers—those who have full-time, albeit low-paying jobs—are entering the ranks of the homeless, the Washington Post reported on July 29. The difficulty in covering the high cost of rent—affordable housing doesn’t exist— added to the rising costs of food, utilities, healthcare, automobile upkeep, etc., means that many workers are just one step away from homelessness, should an unexpected expense arise, such as a medical emergency. The Post calls this the “new, unlikely face of homelessness,” because these are people with jobs, many of whom work more than 50 hours a week. The reality is not all that “new"—the Biden administration can’t explain how it is happening in such a “strong economy"— but rather that the U.S. economic breakdown is accelerating and low-paid American workers are the first victims thrown on the trash heap.
In 2023, homelessness among employed workers hit a record high, and has increased dramatically in parts of the country this year. Homelessness in southeast Texas increased by 61% in one year, by 35% in Rhode Island, and 20% in northeast Tennessee. Margot Kushel, director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at University of California San Francisco commented that homeless workers aren’t as visible as those who occupy public spaces, or who have mental health problems, but added that their situation “is a catastrophe and it’s happening right under our eyes.”
