Homelessness in New York Doubles since 2022, According to State Comptroller’s Report
Alarming Increase in Homeless Population
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — New York’s homeless population has more than doubled between January 2022 and January 2024, according to a report released by the State Comptroller’s office. Data revealed that homelessness grew in the state by 53.1% between 2023 and 2024 alone.
Statewide Impact
The report showed that there were more than 158,000 homeless New Yorkers in 2024, including over 50,000 children. Those figures indicated that New York’s homeless population accounts for about 20% of the 771,480 people in the country experiencing homelessness, following statistics from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Regional Breakdown
The growth was predominantly driven by New York City, which accounted for 93% of the state’s increase in total homeless population. Outside of the city, the Glens Falls and Saratoga areas were included among the locations with the highest increases.
Causes of Homelessness
Data from the report cited an influx of asylum seekers in the state as a primary cause of the sharp growth in homelessness. A lack of affordable housing, raised rents, and eviction proceedings were also listed as contributing factors.
“New York has long had a housing affordability crisis, and more families are running out of options and ending up on the street or in shelters,” New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said. “Many of the tens of thousands of asylum seekers that came to New York had no place to stay and drove up spending and a large portion of the growth of the homeless population. But let’s be clear, this isn’t just a New York City problem, it is impacting communities all over the state. New York needs to examine how it’s using current housing resources while taking more action to address this urgent situation.”
Positive Notes
Inversely, the report showed that New York had the nation’s lowest amount of unsheltered people at a mere 3.6%. The state also has the country’s largest number of year-round emergency housing beds with 127,759, around 50,000 more than California, which has the second most.
Conclusion
The alarming increase in homelessness in New York State is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The State Comptroller’s report highlights the need for effective solutions to address the housing affordability crisis, including providing support for asylum seekers and addressing the lack of affordable housing options.
FAQs
* What is the current homeless population in New York State?
+ According to the State Comptroller’s report, there are over 158,000 homeless New Yorkers, including over 50,000 children.
* What is the cause of the sharp growth in homelessness in New York State?
+ The report cites an influx of asylum seekers, lack of affordable housing, raised rents, and eviction proceedings as contributing factors.
* What is being done to address the homeless crisis in New York State?
+ The State Comptroller’s office is urging the state to examine its current housing resources and take more action to address the urgent situation.
* Is New York State doing anything to support asylum seekers?
+ The report highlights the need for more support for asylum seekers, including providing them with affordable housing options.
