Homelessness has migrated toward rural and suburban areas. The number of homeless people has not changed dramatically but the number of homeless families has increased according to a report of HUD. The United States Congress appropriated $25 million in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants for 2008 to show the effectiveness of Rapid Re-housing programs in reducing family homelessness. In February 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, part of which addressed homelessness prevention, allocating $1.5 billion for a Homeless Prevention Fund. The Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) programs name was changed to Emergency Solution Grant (ESG) program, and funds were re-allocated to assist with homeless prevention and rapid re-housing for families and individuals. Causes
Major reasons for homelessness include:

Rent and eviction
Gentrification is a process in which a formerly affordable neighborhood becomes popular with wealthier people, raising housing prices and pushing poorer residents out. Gentrification can cause or influence evictions, foreclosures, and rent regulation. Increased wealth disparity and income inequality causes distortions in the housing market that push rent burdens higher, making housing unaffordable.In many countries, people lose their homes by government orders to make way for newer upscale high-rise buildings, roadways, and other governmental needs. The compensation may be minimal, in which case the former occupants cannot find appropriate new housing and become homeless. Mortgage foreclosures where mortgage holders see the best solution to a loan default is to take and sell the house to pay off the debt can leave people homeless.
Some see homelessness as more free than living in a house or apartment, and prefer being in nature, as well as away from other people. Some may have had a traumatic experience in a house or apartment, such as a fire, and feel safer outside, being able to survey their surroundings. Challenges
The basic problem of homelessness is the need for personal shelter, warmth, and safety. Other difficulties include:

Hygiene and sanitary facilities
Hostility from the public and laws against urban vagrancy
Cleaning and drying of clothes
Obtaining, preparing, and storing food
Keeping contact with friends, family, and government service providers without a permanent location or mailing address
Medical problems, including issues caused by an individuals homeless state (e.g., hypothermia or frostbite from sleeping outside in cold weather), or issues which are exacerbated by homelessness due to lack of access to treatment (e.g., mental health and the individual not having a place to store prescription drugs)
Personal security, quiet, and privacy, especially for sleeping, bathing, and other hygiene activities
Safekeeping of bedding, clothing, and possessions, which may have to be carried at all timesPeople experiencing homelessness face many problems beyond the lack of a safe and suitable home.