The increasing number of US homeless individuals becomes prominent as fatalities rise.

A recent surge in homelessness in the US has been accompanied by a series of violent attacks on unhoused individuals. According to a report released by US officials, the number of homeless people has increased by approximately 12% since 2022. The study was released following the arrest of a suspected serial killer in Los Angeles who specifically targeted the homeless community. Additionally, a man in California attended court on charges of manslaughter after allegedly filming himself shooting a sleeping homeless man. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's annual Point In Time survey, conducted on a single night in January, revealed that there were 653,104 people experiencing homelessness in the US. This is the highest number recorded since the survey began in 2007. Advocates and officials have emphasized that the recent increase in deadly attacks on the homeless highlights the dangers faced by this vulnerable population. Many believe that a political climate that stigmatizes homelessness, insufficient housing options, and gang and drug violence contribute to the hazardous environment for unhoused individuals. However, what concerns experts the most is that these attacks often occur regularly and without much notice. Keith Jones, who currently resides at the Union Rescue Mission shelter in Los Angeles's Skid Row neighborhood, shared his own experience of being assaulted while homeless. One notable case occurred in Los Angeles, where a suspected serial killer allegedly drove through the city in his luxury car and shot at homeless people. He is also accused of committing another murder during a home robbery. The suspect, Jerrid Joseph Powell, has been charged with four counts of murder. Margot Kushel, director of the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco, stated that such acts of violence against the homeless are not isolated incidents but occur daily outside of public awareness. Recent incidents, such as a shooting at a homeless encampment in Las Vegas and the death of Jordan Neely in New York, have sparked widespread discussions on the issue. Neely died after being held in a chokehold by a former Marine during an argument on the subway. It is important to note that violence against the homeless is not a new phenomenon. In the past, a serial killer known as the "Skid Row Slasher" murdered 11 transient men in Los Angeles between 1964 and 1975. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, nearly a quarter of the city's homicide victims in 2022 were homeless, despite them accounting for only 1.2% of the population. However, accurately tracking the number of homicides and deaths among the homeless population is challenging, as a person's housing status is often not reflected on death certificates. Experts believe that the actual numbers are much higher. Officials also highlighted that, on average, unhoused individuals in the US live shorter lives than those with stable housing. They are also more likely to face non-fatal violent encounters. A survey conducted by Margot Kushel's organization found that approximately 38% of homeless people surveyed had experienced physical or sexual violence. Further, almost half of the victims did not know their assailants, and some incidents were perpetrated by individuals who were not homeless, reflecting the stigma associated with homelessness. Advocates warn that as the problem of homelessness worsens, unhoused individuals face increased dangers. The dense living conditions in places like Skid Row in Los Angeles contribute to tensions and violence. Federal housing officials attribute the rise in homelessness to factors such as the expiration of pandemic-era housing subsidies, rising rents, and dwindling rental inventory. The Biden administration has proposed significant funding and support for housing and homelessness prevention programs. Certain states, such as California, have already invested billions of dollars in addressing homelessness and plan to allocate additional resources. Keith Jones, who is seeking permanent housing in Los Angeles, believes that there are numerous mental health, rehabilitation, and shelter services available, but many unhoused individuals are unaware of them. He hopes that increased awareness and dialogue will help ensure the safety of homeless individuals and encourages people to report instances of abuse or assault against the homeless.