Part 2/9:
The statistics are alarming: the annual report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) indicates an 18% rise in homelessness compared to the previous year, marking a drastic shift in a nation once considered a beacon of prosperity. This increase is even more striking when put into context; across the previous 16 years, the total rise was only 19%. Such exponential growth raises serious concerns about the fabric of American society.