White House Council of Economic Advisors Publishes Homelessness Report

The White House Council of Economic Advisors recently issued a report titled “The State of Homelessness in America.” It argues that overregulation of the housing market and failed policies have led to increases in the number of persons experiencing homelessness in certain parts of the country. The report describes how the number of unsheltered homeless is largely concentrated in California, New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C., and cites “more tolerable conditions for sleeping on the streets” as a reason for this.

The report also discusses what it calls shortfalls with previous federal policies. The report claims the Trump administration is working to “reverse the failed policies of the past,” by seeking to remove regulatory barriers in the housing market, which would reduce the price of homes and reduce homelessness. The report also states HUD has improved federal homeless assistance programs by providing flexibility for communities to utilize service participation requirements and more strongly encouraging self-sufficiency.