Alarm Bells
An annual count of homeless youths conducted last January found the highest number of unsheltered young people in at least a decade, more than double the number last year.
Report Highlights
The report, conducted by the city’s Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD), counted 418 young people between the ages of 14 and 24 sleeping in houses of worship, overnight drop-in centers, the subways, fast food restaurants, and other tenuous situations during a four-day period in January. This is up from 147 last year, nearly double the number of homeless youth the count found last year.
Of those, 73 young people were found to be staying overnight in drop-in centers that don’t have beds, instead allowing youth to spend the night and ‘rest’ but not ‘sleep’, according to a directive issued by Mayor Eric Adams’ administration in January 2023. The report also revealed a dramatic spike in the number of minors between the age of 14 and 18 found living unsheltered: 56 youths, up from nine the year earlier.
Response from Advocates
Jamie Powlovich, who works with homeless youth at the Coalition for the Homeless, called the data devastating. "Under the de Blasio administration, things weren’t perfect, but significant steps were taken to meet the needs of young people experiencing homelessness in the city," she said. "Unfortunately under the current administration, all we’re seeing is report after report that has historically high data."
Sebastien Vante, the associate vice president at Safe Horizon, which runs Streetwork Project, a drop-in center for homeless youth, said the data indicates one major need. "More beds — we need more beds. We need more beds, and we need more money. Programs like ours need more funding so that we can continue to meet the growing needs of this growing population of youth who are experiencing homelessness."
City Response
Mark Zustovich, a spokesperson for DYCD, defended the city’s work with homeless and at-risk youth. "DYCD and our providers continue to step up for runaway and homeless youth, offering immediate and longer-term services to anyone who needs them," he said. "DYCD providers connect all young people to available resources or refer them to other programs, so they get the critical services they deserve."
However, the city is not considering adding more youth shelter beds, Zustovich reported that 777 of 813 youth shelter beds were occupied as of Tuesday morning.
Conclusion
The data highlights the devastating reality of homelessness among young people in New York City, with a surge in unsheltered youth and a lack of available beds. Advocates are calling for increased funding and more beds to meet the growing needs of this population. The city’s response, however, suggests that the current administration is not prioritizing the issue.
FAQs
Q: What is the cause of the surge in homeless youth in New York City?
A: The exact cause of the surge is unclear, but advocates point to a combination of factors, including a lack of affordable housing and social services, as well as the influx of migrants and asylum seekers traveling from the southern border.
Q: What is being done to address the issue?
A: The city’s Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) is providing services to homeless and at-risk youth, including immediate and longer-term support. However, advocates are calling for increased funding and more beds to meet the growing needs of this population.
Q: Will the city be adding more youth shelter beds?
A: According to a spokesperson for DYCD, the city is not considering adding more youth shelter beds at this time.
