The human displacement crisis in the U.S. has never been more severe. Heading into 2025, the Pallet team is more driven than ever to create positive, lasting change.
As we plan for the year ahead, the Pallet team is motivated to continue our mission to provide shelter for displaced populations. And with recent data showing escalating numbers of people impacted by this crisis, we’re aware that the need for safe, stable spaces is more critical now than ever.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 2024 Point-in-Time Count reported that 770,000 people across the U.S. experienced homelessness on a single night in January. Not only does this represent a troubling 18% rise in homelessness from the previous year’s statistics, but we know that the difficulties associated with collecting this data means this number is likely much higher in reality.
In addition to the historic numbers of people experiencing domestic homelessness, a swath of devastating climate-related events also contributed to an immense rise of people displaced by natural disasters across the country. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, from 1980 up to 2024, the average number of disasters per year causing $1 billion of damage or more was nine; 27 such events occurred last year. Hurricane Helene, which struck Florida’s Big Bend region back in September, caused $79.6 billion in damage and 219 recorded deaths alone.
Until every person has a place to call home, we will continue our fight in addressing the human displacement crisis. This scope of work is broad, but there are several specific strategies Pallet is implementing in 2025 on federal, state, and local levels.
Shifts in the Federal Administration
As President Trump takes office for a second term, changes in leadership and priorities for the country follow closely behind. Newly appointed officials and leaders will affect national strategies to address homelessness as well as disaster preparedness and response.
This means the Pallet Government Affairs team will be visiting DC in the next several weeks to meet with elected officials and their staff, ready to share Pallet’s vision, product offerings, and plans to effectively integrate our model into federal strategies.
We are looking forward to the official confirmations of the new heads of HUD and FEMA, which will allow us to align Pallet with the new direction of these crucial departments at the core of our work. Collaborating with these policymakers is key in establishing an environment that fosters positive change in people’s lives rather than implementing punitive, inequitable measures that do nothing but exacerbate this crisis.
Addressing Displacement in States and Counties
While the new federal administration will be influential in creating national policies, each U.S. state faces its unique challenges in providing appropriate shelter and housing for their displaced residents.
In our experience creating shelter sites across the country, we have learned that solving these issues requires tailored strategies that not only include shelter provision but also supportive services and many other considerations that meet the specific needs of impacted populations.
We utilized this expertise and insight to create a Five-Year Strategic Plan to End Homelessness for Savannah and Chatham County Interagency Council on Homelessness. The plan, formulated through meetings with key stakeholders and collecting relevant data, includes a comprehensive strategy to reach functional zero homelessness for the broader Savannah community. We will use this approach as a framework for designing effective, actionable, and thorough solutions to state and countywide displacement going forward.
On the front of climate-related events, this year we are placing a focus on demonstrating how non-congregate emergency shelter can play a pivotal role in strengthening resilience for disaster-prone states. We have already proven Pallet’s efficacy in responding to emergencies after building a shelter site for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Helene just days after the storm had passed. In the coming year, we are eager to expand this capacity for communities at risk of experiencing events like hurricanes, fires, and flooding—and increase access to rapidly deployable shelter when they need it most.
Making an Impact in Our Community
Pallet would be nothing without our people. Everything starts at our HQ in Washington State: before we can help displaced populations across the country, we are committed to providing stability and growth opportunities for our team members.
We created our Purpose-Led Workforce Model to advance this mission. A pivotal part of this model is Pallet’s Career Launch PAD (Program for Apprenticeship Development), which entails working on the manufacturing floor at HQ while participating in a paid pre-apprenticeship program focused on developing critical skills needed for a career in the trades.
We are looking forward to celebrating the graduation of our Career Launch PAD’s first cohort in 2025. After our team members complete the program, they will have the chance to pursue a rewarding career in the trades and become the skilled workforce of the future, creating more available space at Pallet for our next class in the process.
The displacement crisis in the U.S. has never been more dire. Through targeted efforts to address it on federal, state, and local levels, Pallet is driven to be part of the solution. Together, we have the chance to create lasting change in the coming year and ensure no one goes unsheltered.
Make your voice heard: by voting in the election, especially on the state and local levels, we can help create communities where everyone has a place to call home.
As the November 2024 Election takes center stage, national discussions on presidential candidates and their policy platforms often overshadow other topics. However, for issues like housing and homelessness, decisions made in local elections can have a more immediate and profound impact. While federal policies set broad parameters and designate funding streams, local and state governments are often where real change can happen—especially regarding housing development, zoning, and homeless services.
During this 2024 election cycle, it’s critical to understand how different levels of government function and influence housing and homelessness policy—and why your vote all the way down the ballot counts.
How Local, State, and Federal Governments Shape Housing and Homelessness
Housing and homelessness are complex issues, influenced by a web of policies set at the federal, state, and local levels. While each level of government plays a distinct role, their collaboration is essential to creating sustainable solutions.
Federal Role
At the federal level, laws and programs provide the financial backbone for many housing and homelessness initiatives. Agencies like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) allocate billions annually for affordable housing, shelters, and assistance programs. Other key players, such as SAMHSA and the VA, provide mental health, substance use support, and housing services for veterans. These agencies work with local governments and nonprofits to prevent and reduce homelessness nationwide.
Medicaid, managed federally and at the state level, also supports services like behavioral health care for those experiencing homelessness. Federal policies often set the stage, but the implementation of programs like housing vouchers, grants for affordable housing projects, and homelessness outreach often depends on local administration.
State Role
State governments act as a crucial intermediary and often set their own standards for addressing housing and homelessness as well. States determine how federal funds are distributed to cities and counties and may set additional housing policies tailored to their specific needs. For example, state governments may pass legislation that incentivizes the development of affordable housing by offering tax credits or grants to developers. They may also establish tenant protections, housing bonds, or rent control measures, which vary according to the political climate of each state.
Local Role
For those passionate about housing and homelessness, voting in local elections is one of the most powerful actions you can take. City councils, county boards, and mayors make key decisions on zoning laws, land use, public health and safety, and the allocation of local budgets for shelters and supportive services. For instance, zoning laws dictate where emergency shelters and affordable housing can be constructed, and can either exacerbate housing shortages, or encourage development for homes or mixed-use spaces.
Local governments can also create strategic plans to create more housing or end homelessness, and they are uniquely positioned to pass ordinances around public camping or shelter availability – which directly impacts those experiencing homelessness.
This interplay between federal, state, and local policies creates a patchwork of regulations and funding streams that can be difficult to navigate. Outcomes often depend on local officials’ ability to effectively manage across these systems, and therefore, these leaders play a vital role in how well your community addresses housing and homelessness.
Why This Election Cycle is So Important
This election cycle presents a crucial opportunity to combat the escalating housing crisis and growth of homelessness. Nationally, many are struggling with skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing that is driving homelessness. The COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and economic uncertainty have exacerbated these issues further, leaving more people vulnerable to housing insecurity. As a result, the leaders we elect in November will inherit the responsibility of navigating these challenges.
It's not just the high-profile races that matter—down-ballot races, like those for city councils and county commissioners, directly affect communities in a multitude of ways, shaping policies that affect renters, homeowners and those experiencing homelessness.
How To Get Involved
Since “down-ballot” races often receive less media attention, fewer people may be informed about local candidates and their platforms. This makes it even more critical to research local candidates and understand their positions on the issues.
There are many ways to learn about local candidates, such as attending town halls, visiting their campaign websites, or reviewing their voting records. There are also many ways to get involved beyond voting, such as volunteering for candidates, ballot measures, or with local advocacy groups.
Whether you are voting early, by mail, or on election day Tuesday, November 5th, remember that every vote counts—especially for local races where margins can be slim.
While national elections may shape the headlines, local politics shape communities. By making a plan to vote with housing and homelessness in mind, we can help create thriving communities where everyone has a place to call home.
By broadening housing and supportive service models that meet the needs of those fleeing domestic violence, we can prevent impacted families from experiencing homelessness.
Research conducted over the past two decades has produced staggering and concerning statistics that illustrate the link between domestic violence and homelessness. Nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the U.S., equating to 10 million victims per year. 38% of all domestic violence victims experience homelessness at some point in their lives. And in a survey conducted on one day in 2016, out of 11,991 unfulfilled requests from adults and children fleeing domestic violence, 66% of those requests were for safe housing and shelter.
There are many factors that contribute to this connection. To make meaningful change in ending this epidemic, it is key to understand the systemic inequity creating barriers for individuals and families escaping domestic violence—and ultimately remove those barriers by providing compassionate, comprehensive support via shelter, housing, and services.
Why is Escaping Domestic Violence So Difficult?
Before this question can be answered, it’s important to note that this framing is, in itself, problematic and perpetuates a culture of victim blaming. It’s a more appropriate question to ask, “Why do abusers hurt their partners, and how do they prevent them from leaving the relationship?”
There are several immediate reasons why domestic violence survivors feel they cannot leave their abusive partners. In many instances, leaving can be more dangerous than staying, with abusers threatening to harm or kill their partner, child, or pet. Psychological manipulation can also cause survivors to feel isolated and cut off from crucial support networks, making them feel like they have nowhere to turn. The majority of survivors also experience financial abuse, where they either have no access to the household’s income, have been prohibited from working, or have had their credit score destroyed by an abusive partner.
Beyond these direct barriers preventing freedom from their abuser, survivors also face systemic obstacles. A lack of easily attainable resources such as emergency shelter options and transportation to service provision sites prevent victims from quickly finding support. Even in light of state and federal laws preventing housing providers from discriminating against victims, some landlords will refuse to rent to someone who has experienced domestic violence. Further, those who have immigrated to the U.S. face language barriers, fears of being separated from their children, and potential threats of family members in their home country.
Best Ways to Support Survivors
The most effective ways to help survivors of domestic abuse are to expand emergency shelter models, transitional housing, and services tailored to their specific needs—while concurrently improving accessibility of these resources.
Emergency shelter, specifically non-congregate options like Pallet that follow principles of trauma-informed design, offer survivors a safe and secure environment that allows families to stay together in their own private space. Transitional housing with integrated supportive service programming is also an ideal model for people escaping an abusive living situation, giving survivors the chance to achieve economic stability and physical well-being.
In 2023, roughly 10.4% of all beds within homelessness service systems were reserved for survivors of domestic abuse and their families. Expanding overall shelter space and placing a concerted focus on tailoring short-term housing solutions to the unique safety needs of survivors is needed. One example is allocating more funding to grants like those administered through the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).
By understanding the challenges survivors face in seeking out help and providing easily accessible emergency shelter, short-term housing, and services that directly address their needs, individuals and families fleeing abuse will be better supported to achieve long-term safety and freedom.
If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic violence or abuse, please refer to the following resources:
National Domestic Violence Hotline
National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
Battered Women's Justice Project Criminal and Civil Justice Center
National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence
Ujima, Inc.: The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community
National Latin@ Network for Healthy Families and Communities