New York City, a global hub of culture and economy, is also facing a significant crisis of homelessness. The Coalition for the Homeless provides critical data highlighting the scope of this issue. In recent years, homelessness in New York City has surged to levels not seen since the Great Depression era. Understanding the scale of this problem is crucial. This article delves into the key statistics and factors contributing to mass homelessness in NYC, providing a clear picture of How Many People In New York City are currently experiencing homelessness.
In December 2024, a staggering 124,764 individuals sought refuge in New York City shelters each night. However, this number only represents a portion of the crisis. Thousands more individuals are estimated to be sleeping unsheltered in public spaces. While precise figures for the unsheltered population are challenging to obtain, and the annual HOPE estimate is considered flawed, the scale of unsheltered homelessness is undeniable. Furthermore, over 200,000 individuals are temporarily doubled up, relying on the precarious shelter of friends or family. Considering these figures, it is estimated that more than 350,000 people in New York City were without stable housing in December 2024. This paints a stark picture of the breadth of homelessness in the city.
Homelessness disproportionately affects families with children. In December 2024, 71 percent of those in shelters were part of homeless families, including a heartbreaking 43,131 children. Single adults also constitute a significant portion of the shelter population, with 36,595 individuals recorded in shelters during the same month. Adding to the complexity, a substantial number, 51,545 individuals, or 41 percent of those in shelters, were categorized as New Arrivals, primarily asylum seekers.
The impact of homelessness extends to education. More than 146,000 schoolchildren in NYC experienced homelessness at some point during the 2023–2024 school year. This means that approximately one in eight children attending city schools faced housing instability, highlighting the profound impact of homelessness on the younger generation.
The root cause of homelessness in NYC is overwhelmingly attributed to the lack of affordable housing. Surveys consistently point to this systemic issue as the primary driver. Immediate triggers for homelessness often include: eviction, the instability of doubled-up or severely overcrowded housing, domestic violence, job loss, and hazardous housing conditions. These triggers are exacerbated by the underlying lack of affordable housing options.
The affordable housing crisis in New York City is decades in the making. Between 1996 and 2017, NYC lost a staggering 1.1 million units of affordable housing. The consequences are evident in the current housing market, where the vacancy rate for affordable apartments in NYC is less than one percent. This scarcity creates intense competition for limited affordable units and leaves many vulnerable individuals and families with few options.
While homelessness is present across all of New York City, families entering shelters (excluding New Arrivals) are often concentrated in specific zip codes within the city’s poorest neighborhoods. Despite this concentration, every community district in NYC is contributing to the ongoing homelessness crisis, demonstrating the city-wide nature of this challenge.
The demographics and needs of the homeless population are diverse. Compared to homeless families, single adults experiencing homelessness often face higher rates of serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and other severe health problems. Data on these rates for New Arrivals is still being collected. Among longer-term New Yorkers (non-New Arrivals) in DHS shelters, a significant percentage have disabilities requiring accommodation: 43 percent of families with children, 65 percent of single adults, and 75 percent of families without minor children. Furthermore, a majority of unsheltered homeless individuals are grappling with mental illness or other severe health problems, further complicating their situation.
Homelessness in NYC also exhibits significant racial disparities. Black and Hispanic/Latinx New Yorkers are disproportionately affected. Approximately 56 percent of heads of household in shelters are Black, and 32 percent are Hispanic/Latinx. In contrast, 7 percent are White, less than 1 percent are Asian-American or Native American, and 4 percent are of unknown race/ethnicity. The city has not yet released demographic information on asylum seekers and other new arrivals in shelters.
The duration of homelessness can be extensive. In City Fiscal Year 2023, the average length of stay in the DHS shelter system was 412 days for single adults, 437 days for families with children, and a lengthy 750 days for adult families. These extended shelter stays underscore the difficulty individuals and families face in securing permanent housing solutions.
Despite the challenges, New York City’s legal Right to Shelter has provided a crucial safety net. Since 1981, this right has offered more than one million homeless New Yorkers a path off the streets. This legal framework remains a vital, though strained, component of the city’s response to homelessness.
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* “New Arrivals” are defined as those from other nations who arrived in NYC after March 15, 2022.
Updated February 2025
