Testimony from several Continuums of Care (CoC) — local or regional planning bodies that coordinate shelter and other services for people experiencing homelessness (example here) — suggests that this combination is primarily what launched homelessness into the stratosphere since 2022. Here are a few examples:

Northeast CoC: “In response to COVID-19, our CoC saw an influx of rapid rehousing and prevention resources, as well as an effective statewide eviction moratorium. These efforts were effective in keeping households from entering into homelessness and moving households out of homelessness quickly. Since the sunsetting of these resources and the ending of the eviction moratorium, our CoC has seen a large influx of new families and individuals seeking emergency shelter assistance.”

Midwest CoC: “Due to the economic impacts of inflation in combination with the lack of affordable housing, there has been an increase in folks experiencing homelessness, and that has resulted in seeing an increase in folks experiencing unsheltered homelessness as well.”