World Day of Social Justice: Around the World, Ending Homelessness is Imperative
On World Day of Social Justice, we pause to reflect not only on our values as a community but the reality facing millions of our neighbors here in the U.S. and across the globe. At Threshold CoC, we believe that housing is not just a need, it is a fundamental human right. Ending homelessness is not an act of charity. It is the foundation of a just and thriving society.
Homelessness is often treated as a local issue, but the truth is that it spans borders and affects societies everywhere. In the United States alone, recent data show that hundreds of thousands of people experience homelessness on any given night, with point-in-time counts reporting well over 650,000 individuals without stable housing, the highest levels in decades. These numbers are more than statistics. They represent our neighbors who are parents, children, elders, veterans, and working people who lack a secure place to sleep and call home.
Looking beyond our borders, the scale is even more staggering. According to global estimates from the United Nations, hundreds of millions of people worldwide are homeless, with approximately 318 million people lacking any permanent shelter and billions more living in inadequate or unsafe housing conditions.
Homelessness is rooted in inequality. It intersects with poverty, racial and economic injustice, health disparities, systemic barriers, and displacement driven by climate and conflict. When equitable access to housing is denied, people are more vulnerable to violence, illness, exclusion, and the loss of opportunity. This reality is not inevitable. It is the result of policy choices, economic systems, and gaps in social support that can be addressed through collective action.
At Threshold CoC, this data highlights a fundamental truth: housing is a human right, not a privilege. Ending homelessness is justice in action. That means working with our unhoused neighbors to secure stable homes while advocating for the policies, partnerships, and resources that prevent homelessness in the first place. It means listening to people with lived experience and centering their voices in solutions.
On World Day of Social Justice, we must focus on sustained, collaborative action in our CoC and promote solidarity with communities around the world. When everyone has a place to call home, our communities become healthier, stronger, and more just.