Covid-19 is still a hot topic in both the national and international media. The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has caused widespread panic and has had a significant impact on the global economy. The number of confirmed cases fluctuates as one variant runs its course until another new variant appears. Countries are taking drastic measures to try to control the virus's spread and subsequent variants. Millions of people have died as a result of the virus, and many more have been infected. The pandemic has forced businesses to close, disrupted global supply chains, and caused global stock markets to plummet. Economists are concerned that the economic upheaval will continue indefinitely.

The number of homeless people in the United States and around the world has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This is due to a number of factors, including a lack of job security, apprehension about becoming infected, and difficulty obtaining necessary services.

COVID-19’s Impact on Homelessness in the United States

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the country's homeless population. Many homeless people are afraid of becoming infected and have difficulty accessing basic services. In some cases, homeless people were barred from entering shelters or other public places in order to contain the virus. This has made finding safe and affordable housing for homeless people even more difficult. The number of homeless people in the United States is increasing.

Factors contributing to homelessness in the United States during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Homelessness, like most social issues, has multiple root causes that are frequently intertwined. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated pre-existing issues.  In fact, when HUD released its 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, it showed homelessness was increasing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Some of the major factors contributing to homelessness during the pandemic are as follows:

• Lack of affordable housing: In recent years, the cost of housing has risen rapidly, while the availability of affordable housing has decreased. This has resulted in an increase in homelessness, particularly among low-income families and individuals.
• Mental health issues: Mental health issues, such as addiction or PTSD, are frequently the root causes of homelessness. Traumatic experiences, such as becoming homeless, frequently exacerbate these issues. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to increase the number of people experiencing mental health issues, resulting in an increase in homelessness.
• Job insecurity: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant drop in global trade, as well as the closure of businesses and the layoff of employees. This has resulted in increased unemployment and job insecurity, which has resulted in homelessness.
• Lack of access to essential services: Many homeless people struggle to get access to basic services like healthcare and food. This is because they do not have enough money, transportation, or identification. The COVID-19 pandemic makes access to these services even more difficult for the homeless.
  

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Global Vision Technologies, the developers of FAMCare, is an industry leader for social services software. If you would like to learn more about how we help agencies that serve the homeless, please visit us under clients we serve.