Homelessness in the United States has surged to its highest level since federal records began nearly 20 years ago, according to a new report from the Biden administration. The increase is attributed to soaring rents, a lack of affordable housing, and a significant influx of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

On a single night in January 2024, nearly 772,000 people were counted as homeless, marking an 18% increase over the previous year’s record-breaking numbers. Among them were over 80,000 families with children, whose numbers rose dramatically by 39% compared to 2023, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing the government’s findings.

The report highlighted a sharp rise in both family and unsheltered homelessness, with unsheltered homelessness up by 7%. Cities like New York, Denver, and Chicago saw their shelter systems overwhelmed in January due to a surge of migrants, exacerbating the crisis.

However, the situation has improved since June, following executive actions by President Biden to tighten asylum regulations. Officials from the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development noted that unlawful border crossings have significantly declined, easing pressure on urban shelter systems.