WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government is reporting a 2.7% increase in the nation's homeless population based on its annual count taken in January 2019.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development says it is the third consecutive uptick in homelessness and was driven by a 16.4% increase in California.
President Donald Trump has been highly critical of the homeless problem in California, and HUD Secretary Ben Carson says homelessness is at a crisis level in the state.
While the overall homeless count increased, there are pockets of progress. The HUD count found declines in the number of homeless veterans and homeless families.