A new report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development reveals a distressing reality: homelessness in the United States has skyrocketed by a record 12 percent between January 2022 and January 2023.

The number of homeless in the Denver metro area grew by 46% from 2022 to 2023, outpacing all major metro areas except for Chicago.

More than 650,000 individuals found themselves homeless on a single night in January 2023. This marks the highest number recorded since reporting began in 2007.

Despite a temporary decline in 2021 and 2022 due to emergency measures, the numbers have once again spiked. This disheartening data confirms what many had feared and underscores the urgent need for action.

The report highlights that several states witnessed significant increases in homelessness, including New York, California, Florida, Washington, Colorado, and Massachusetts. Among the metropolitan areas with the largest increases were New York City, Los Angeles, Denver, and San Diego, along with certain rural areas in Texas.