Unhoused in America: Reflecting Our Societal Values

Homelessness in America isn’t just a policy failure. It’s a human crisis.

It affects families, veterans, and individuals in every state. In 2024 over 771,480 people in the U.S. experienced homelessness on a single night. But how did we get here? And what does our response, or lack thereof, say about us as a culture?

A History of Homelessness in America

In the late 19th century, the Industrial Revolution drew people to cities with the promise of work. But employment wasn’t guaranteed, and housing didn’t keep pace. Then came the Great Depression, leaving many unhoused and making homelessness a national concern for the first time.

Fast forward to the 1980s, when a wave of deinstitutionalization closed mental health facilities without proper support systems in place. Thousands of people with mental illness were left to navigate homelessness on their own.

From there, things snowballed.

The term “new homelessness” emerged, encompassing families, veterans, and working people who couldn’t afford rent. Today, rising costs and stagnant wages have turned housing insecurity into a structural reality. In cities like Los Angeles, homelessness increased by 14% between 2019 and 2020 alone.

U.S. vs. Europe: Why the Difference Is Stark

So how do other countries handle this?

Take Berlin, for example. Germany invests heavily in prevention—ensuring people have access to mental health care, job support, and housing stability long before a crisis occurs.

Their approach works. In Berlin, street homelessness is under 1%. In U.S. cities, it can approach 30%.

Meanwhile, over 11 million renters in the U.S. spend more than half their income on housing. That leaves very little margin for error. One illness or job loss, and people risk losing their homes.

Why We Look Away: Cultural Blind Spots

Despite widespread concern, many Americans still see homelessness as inevitable. Some view it as the result of individual choices rather than structural failures.

We’ve become desensitized. In cities where tents line sidewalks and underpasses, it’s easier to look away than confront the reality.

Worse, stigmas around mental illness, addiction, and poverty still run deep. In some places, it’s illegal to sleep in a car or lie down in public. These policies don’t solve homelessness—they just move it around.

Case Study: Boise, Idaho

Boise, nestled in the Treasure Valley, was once known for its affordability and small‑town charm. But in recent years, a skyrocketing population and real estate boom have transformed the city, and left many long-time residents struggling to keep up.

A few years ago, a modest one‑bedroom apartment could rent for $800/month. Now? Prices closer to $1,400/month, with local incomes lagging far behind. Some renters report 40–60% increases in just one or two years.

“I’m doing everything right—working, saving—but the rent hikes are relentless,” says Maria, a single mother and Boise native forced to move into her sister’s basement with her kids.

Organizations like Interfaith Sanctuary and Boise Rescue Mission are seeing record demand. Interfaith’s intake lines are busy, beds full, and local outreach teams report a rising number of people sleeping in cars or tents, especially around the Greenbelt and downtown libraries.

But Boise, along with cities with populations over 100,000, has outlawed sleeping in vehicles on public property, including sidewalks, parks, and other public spaces, as of July 1, 2025. This is due to a new state law, Senate Bill 1141, which bans public camping and sleeping in vehicles.

Efforts to expand shelter capacity or build supportive housing, such as Interfaith Sanctuary’s 2022 relocation proposal, have been met with legal challenges and community pushback. Critics often cite concerns about property values, character of neighborhoods, and safety.

But frontline workers push back:

“People don’t want homelessness in their backyard, but they also don’t want to fund the solutions that could end it,” says Toni, a veteran caseworker in the area.

Our Path Home is a coalition of nearly 50 partner agencies—including CATCH and Interfaith Sanctuary—that work together using the Housing First model. They offer prevention, financial assistance, rapid re-housing, and supportive housing, with an 80% success rate of families remaining stably housed one year after placement.

For younger residents, Hays House (run by Idaho Youth Ranch) is the only 24-hour emergency shelter in Boise for youth ages 9–17 experiencing homelessness, abuse, or trauma. It includes counseling, therapy, and job readiness programs like YOUTHWORKS! 

A local nonprofit, LEAP Housing, is partnering with faith communities under the national YIGBY (Yes in God’s Backyard) initiative. On land leased from Collister United Methodist Church for just $1/year, LEAP built family housing units renting at roughly 50% below market rate, a creative model harnessing church land for affordable housing.

Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA)

IHFA plays a central role by administering most federally awarded homelessness funding for Idaho, including HUD grants that fund shelters, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, and supportive services.

In 2024, IHFA received $3.8 million in HUD funds for teen homelessness services statewide, while the City of Boise received $3.2 million, to expand youth-focused housing programs and supportive services.

IHFA is part of the House Idaho Collaborative, bringing together providers, government officials, and advocates to coordinate responses statewide and prevent duplication of services.

Through grant programs and counseling services, IHFA also offers emergency rental and utility assistance to avoid eviction. Folks in crisis can call a statewide hotline or connect via FindHelpIdaho.org to access resources.

Boise’s story shows that a high-functioning homelessness response requires both coordinated infrastructure and local partnerships. Without them, even an affordable city can quickly become overwhelmed.

Witness the visible effects of homelessness in urban environments.

What This Says About Us

So, why does society seem to overlook this crisis? A widespread acceptance of homelessness as a part of urban life has fostered a troubling complacency. Many individuals unconsciously become desensitized to the struggles of those living in the streets. Engaging with the issue feels daunting, so ignoring it appears easier.

Cultural attitudes also shape how we address homelessness. Stigmas surrounding mental illness, addiction, and poverty lead many to dismiss vulnerable populations as “other.” This lack of compassion often drives punitive actions rather than meaningful solutions. Such approaches not only fail to tackle the root causes of homelessness but often worsen the plight of those in need.

Americans view homelessness as a significant problem but may not prioritize it as an urgent issue. How will future generations judge our indifference toward the suffering of our fellow citizens? The treatment of our most vulnerable citizens reflects our societal values. Will we be remembered as a society that built barriers, or one that opened doors? That criminalized poverty, or that tackled its root causes with empathy and resolve?

Explore the reality of informal shelters and camps in urban settings.

The crisis of homelessness is not just a logistical challenge; it speaks volumes about our shared humanity. Addressing this issue requires more than just providing housing; it demands fostering a culture of empathy, educational opportunities, and community outreach

With rich histories and diverse modern solutions, we have opportunities to lead in compassionate approaches to assist those struggling to find proper housing.

By recognizing the pressing challenges in cities like Boise, understanding systemic inequalities, and reflecting on our cultural identity, we lay the foundation to transform the narrative around homelessness in America.

So let’s ask ourselves:

What kind of society do we want to be?

And then, let’s start building it together.