Uncovering America: Having a home has become the most elusive American Dream

Los Angeles' prosperity. This dilapidated neighborhood, filled with tents and shacks, is the most concentrated area for unhoused people in Los Angeles and even across the United States.

Homelessness has long been a persistent social issue in America, exacerbated by factors such as a shortage of affordable housing, high unemployment rates and soaring healthcare costs, showing a worsening trend. According to a report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the unhoused population in the United States increased by 18.1 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, exceeding 770,000 – the highest number since records began in 2007.

In the United States, unhoused individuals are often viewed as a "threat" to public order. Last August, the U.S. government ordered the clearance of unhoused people from the capital, Washington, D.C., and urged cities and states to dismantle homeless encampments. With the backing of the Supreme Court, an increasing number of states and municipalities have begun banning unhoused individuals from sleeping outdoors, with violators facing fines or imprisonment. Within the unhoused population, up to two-thirds struggle with mental health issues or substance addiction. Many experts worry that forced displacement policies not only violate the fundamental rights of those experiencing homelessness but may also backfire, exacerbating their mental health challenges.

In this video, CGTN Stringer visited Skid Row to interview several unhoused individuals, documenting their most pressing difficulties and concerns. The team also spoke with relevant NGOs to explore whether unhoused people truly pose a threat to public order and why. For them, having a home has become the most elusive American Dream.