Community Housing Network CEO Exposes Hidden Homelessness Crisis and Policy Failures

Kirsten Elliott, CEO and president of Community Housing Network (CHN), brings over two decades of experience addressing housing insecurity in Michigan. Her strategic guidance has resulted in the management of over $120 million in funding and nearly 1,000 new affordable housing units across the state. Elliott's work highlights the growing disconnect between wages and housing costs that is creating a hidden homelessness crisis affecting working families.

The official homelessness statistics severely underestimate the problem, according to Elliott. The 2024 Point-In-Time homeless count found more than 770,000 people experiencing homelessness nationally, representing an 18% increase from 2023. However, this only includes people living on the street or in shelters, excluding those staying with friends, relatives, or in hotels. A 2017 study by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty estimated that the actual homeless population could be anywhere from 2.5 to 10 times higher than official counts.

Elliott emphasizes that the conventional understanding of homelessness fails to account for the hidden homeless population. As many as 60% of people experiencing homelessness have jobs, but wages haven't kept up with housing costs. There is currently no county or state in the U.S. where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. They would need to work 86 hours per week to afford such a unit before factoring in other essential costs.

The housing affordability crisis hits Michigan particularly hard. Research by United Way shows that 42% of Michigan households struggle to meet basic needs, with a family of four requiring $90,096 annually to maintain housing while meeting other necessities. This creates significant challenges in a state where the median household income is $71,000. The gap between income and living costs forces many families to dedicate more than 50% of their income to rent alone.

Federal housing assistance faces significant challenges. While HUD's budget was $72.6 billion heading into 2025, this only provides benefits to 25% of people who need housing support. More concerning are proposed budget cuts that would reduce affordable housing, homelessness, and community development programs by 44%. These cuts, combined with reductions to Medicaid and SNAP assistance, could have catastrophic impacts during an existing housing crisis. Staffing reductions at HUD have already decreased from approximately 10,000 to 7,700 employees nationwide, affecting communication and grant processing efficiency.

Elliitt identifies zoning laws as a major impediment to affordable housing solutions, with NIMBY attitudes preventing necessary development. The lack of public or affordable transportation in Southeast Michigan creates additional barriers to employment and housing stability. She argues that both private and public sector investment is needed to bridge the housing affordability gap that threatens to displace more families and disrupt communities.

The most effective solutions involve preventing homelessness before it occurs, as evicted families face trauma, loss of belongings, and long waits for shelter placement. Elliott encourages business and civic leaders to educate themselves about housing economics, volunteer with organizations like CHN, and consider investing in affordable housing initiatives that will benefit future generations.