Homeless Rate Drops in Michigan

According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan's homeless population fell nearly 8 percent, among the largest one-year declines of all states.

The change is likely the result of federal policy changes aimed at helping to put people in permanent housing quickly, instead of gradually transitioning them into temporary shelters first, and a booming economy.

In Michigan, 8,351 homeless people were counted this year.  Of those, the majority, 7,452, were in shelters or transitional housing.

The number of homeless veterans fell from 2017 by 10.3 percent and homeless families with children fell by 9 percent.

Hud Secretary Ben Carson said, "much progress is being made and much work remains to be done but I have great hope that communities all across our nation are intent on preventing and ending homelessness.