In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

In January 2025, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Point-in-Time count recorded roughly 745,650 people on a single night, a 3% decline from 2024’s record and the first year-over-year drop since 2016. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies reports veteran homelessness at its lowest recorded level, down 56% over 15 years. Those are encouraging numbers, but they also hide a much more troubling one.