National Alliance to End Homelessness/Morning Consult Poll Finds Most Americans Want Greater Leadership and Investment in Ending Homelessness
Washington, D.C., September 25, 2024 — Homelessness in the United States is currently at the highest levels in the history of record keeping by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Although extensive research points to the nation’s prolonged affordable housing crisis as the primary driver of this increase, widespread misunderstanding of the causes of and solutions to end homelessness persists among the public.
In June 2024, the National Alliance to End Homelessness commissioned Morning Consult to conduct a national public opinion poll to learn about the public’s attitudes and understanding of the homelessness crisis. The objective of this research was to identify areas of support, as well as gaps in awareness and understanding, regarding efforts to address the homelessness crisis in the United States.
“This polling makes it clear that Americans are concerned about homelessness, and they expect actual solutions from their elected leaders,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “This is a critical moment for leaders at all levels to make the decades-overdue investments in housing, services, and shelter that will create stronger communities for everyone.”
Some highlights from the polling:
Homelessness is viewed as a chronic and increasing problem.
Most respondents (76 percent) believe more people are becoming homeless for the first time compared to the past, including 33 percent who say significantly more people are becoming homeless. 45 percent have noticed an increase in homelessness in their local community over the past year.
Respondents see all levels of government as responsible for solving homelessness.
Sixty-eight percent believe that homelessness definitely or might be able to be solved locally.
More than three-quarters of respondents (75 percent) agreed with the statement, “homelessness is solvable, but it requires a level of leadership and investments that elected officials are hesitant to make.”
A majority said homelessness can be solved with government policies that fund programs to provide shelter, services, and housing for people who are homeless (54 percent), followed by investments in mental health and substance use prevention (47 percent). Few (14 percent) believe that increased law enforcement will effectively address the issue.
Respondents are encouraged by evidence-based solutions to homelessness.
Polling participants were asked to rank a series of potential solutions to homelessness. More than half (54 percent) reported support for government policies that fund programs to provide shelter, services, and housing for people who are homeless, and 47 percent supported increased investments in mental health and substance use prevention.
Of note, most respondents (86 percent) did not believe that homelessness could be solved by increased law enforcement to keep people from sleeping outdoors on public property.
To learn about the key takeaways from the polling, click here.
For media inquiries or request for interviews please contact: Libby Miller, lmiller@naeh.org.
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Summary of Public Opinion Polling on Homelessness, June 2024 |
About the National Alliance to End Homelessness
The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonprofit, non-partisan, organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. As a leading voice on the issue of homelessness, the Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy solutions; works collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to build state and local capacity; and provides data and research to policymakers and elected officials in order to inform policy debates and educate the public and opinion leaders nationwide.