(Des Moines, IA) -- The number of homeless residents in Polk County is increasing and returning to pre-pandemic levels.
A new report from Homeward, the county's homelessness planning organization, shows the number of people who are unsheltered has risen to 129 this year compared to 94 last year and 118 in 2021.
The report also states blacks comprise 25 percent of the homeless population, despite being just 25 percent of the population.
Substance abuse is also rising, according to Homeward and the Des Moines Register.
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