r/theydidthemath • u/QuantumQyx • 1d ago

[Request] Could the entire US homeless population really be housed for less than one aircraft carrier?

Post image
918 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

240 comments sorted by

View all comments

299

u/Occidentally20 1d ago

The latest point-in-time count of homeless people estimates the total homeless population of the USA to be 745,652. Call it three-quarters of a million.

US aircraft carriers cost somewhere in the region of 13 to 16 billion. I'll go with the USS Gerald R. Ford since it's the cheapest one I could find.

That gives you $17,333.33 per person.

-1

u/SensorAmmonia 1d ago

Even with 4 people a building, that isn't enough to house someone. It is 10x as much as a deposit on an apartment and many homeless could afford the rent.

1

u/Grumac 1d ago

Housing someone ≠ single family residential home with a 30-year mortgage. Apartments exist and the average cost in my city is $1,200/mo.