September 8, 2025
Significant majorities of adults think poverty and homelessness have increased nationwide in the last 25 years, and most say the government has a responsibility to address the issues, according to a new UChicago Harris/AP-NORC Poll.
Views on the causes of poverty and homelessness are closely related to partisanship. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to cite personal choices as major factors for both poverty (77% vs. 49%) and homelessness (77% vs. 51%). In contrast, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to cite lack of government support as major factors for both poverty (61% vs. 21%) and homelessness (63% vs. 26%).
Most adults believe that in the past 25 years, poverty has increased in the United States as a whole (68%) and in their state (60%), and about half think it has increased in their local community (48%). Similarly, 83% believe homelessness has increased nationwide, 72% say it has gone up in their state, and fewer, 55%, think it has increased in their local community. Residents of urban areas are more likely than residents of suburban or rural areas to perceive increases in poverty (60% vs. 44% and 44%) and homelessness (64% vs. 53% and 52%).
About 3 in 4 adults believe the federal government as well as state and local governments have at least a moderate amount of responsibility to address poverty and homelessness, including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Fewer feel that charities or very wealthy individuals share responsibility for addressing these issues.
The survey finds 54% think the government is spending too little to help those in need compared with just 22% who think it is spending the right amount and 22% who say it is spending too much. Most Democrats (81%) and independents (61%) think government spending is too low, compared with 28% of Republicans.
When it comes to specific policies, more favor than oppose removing homeless encampments in U.S. cities (43% vs. 25%), requiring working age adults who receive Medicaid benefits to prove they are working (55% vs. 18%), and expanding the child tax credit for very low-income families (54% vs. 13%). However, fewer support than oppose providing a universal basic income (23% vs. 46%). There is higher support among Republicans for Medicaid work documentation requirements and removing homeless encampments, while Democrats are more likely to support universal basic income and expanding the child tax credit.
The nationwide poll was conducted by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research from August 21-25, 2025 using AmeriSpeak®, the probability-based panel of NORC at the University of Chicago. Online and telephone interviews using landlines and cell phones were conducted with 1,121 adults. The margin of sampling error is +/-4.0 percentage points.
Suggested Citation: AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “Many believe poverty and homelessness are increasing and feel the government has a responsibility to address the issues.” (September 2025). https://apnorc.org/projects/many-believe-poverty-and-homelessness-are-increasing-and-feel-the-government-has-a-responsibility-to-address-the-issues/
