FAQs About Homelessness in New York City
Q: How many people are homeless in New York City?
A: There are more than 38,000 people living in the city’s adult and family shelter systems. No one has an accurate count of the people who are living on the streets, parks, and subways.
Q: Who a typical homeless person?
A: The average homeless New Yorker is a child (almost 45% of the shelter population is comprised of children). Almost 17,000 children are homeless in New York City.
Q: Is homelessness rising?
A: Homelessness is going up for all populations, but most dramatically for families. Their numbers more than doubled since 1998 to over 9,000 families today. Homelessness also is increasing rapidly for older New Yorkers, as well. The ranks of people 65 and older using homeless services rose more than 30% last year.
The number of single homeless men also is rising, but not as rapidly as families and seniors. The daily average number of homeless single women in the DHS shelter system nearly doubled from 1993 (1,100) to Oct. 2003 (1,936), an all-time high since the city began keeping statistics in 1980 (129 women).
Q: What is causing this rise homelessness?
A: The four key factors in New York City are 1) the high cost of housing and shortage of affordable housing; 2) the recession; and 3) a shortage of living-wage jobs for low-skilled workers; and 4) the effects of welfare reform, which has made it difficult for people to obtain help, especially immigrants.
Q: If homelessness is going up, why don’t I see as many homeless people on the street as in the past?
A: Currently, New York City is required to provide shelter to all homeless New Yorkers who seek it. Families, especially, will choose shelters over the streets. Many single adults believe that adult shelters are dangerous and feel safer outside. But because of police crackdowns against homeless adults in recent years, many of them no longer stay in visible public places.
Q: I’ve heard that most homeless people are alcoholic, addicted to drugs, or mentally ill. Is this true?
A: No. Today, most homeless people are families and their children. There is a higher percentage of substance abuse and mental illness among the single adult population, but that’s not true for the overall homeless population.
Q: Why do people become homeless?
A: The reasons vary for each individual. It may be a fire that destroys their home, the loss of a job or cut in working hours, illness, rent increases, an eviction, domestic violence, or unlivable conditions in an apartment. Many New Yorkers live doubled- or tripled-up, and are forced to leave when relationships become stressed. Many older people lose their homes when a lease-holding roommate or spouse dies.
Q: Do any homeless adults work or hold regular jobs?
A: Many homeless people—both in adult and family shelters—have regular jobs, but don’t earn enough to afford housing. Maintaining a job when homeless is very difficult. Many homeless single adults rely on odd jobs, such as collecting and recycling cans, to earn money.
Q: What are shelters like?
A: Shelters vary dramatically, depending on the population they serve and their administrator. Here are some broad categories:
Single Adults:
• City Shelter Network: Congregate or single rooms, operated by government or non-profits;
• Faith Shelter Network: Churches, synagogues, and community groups offer small, volunteer-run, overnight shelters. These shelters may be open for limited times during a week or year. Homeless guests are bused from drop-in centers;
• Drop-In Centers: 24-hour centers that provide food, showers, clothing, and a range of medical and social services. Most drop-in clients come from the street;
Families:
• Emergency Assistance Unit (EAU): Central intake office, located in the Bronx, for the family shelter system;
• Conditional Placements: Families must be able to prove they are homeless. The EAU will place them in “conditional” temporary shelters or hotel rooms until they are certified;
• Tier II Shelters: Longer-term shelters where families may receive a range of social services and assistance finding housing. Some shelters offer single rooms with congregate meals; some provide small apartment units;
• Scatter-Site Housing: Instead of a shelter, a family may be placed in a temporary, privately-owned apartment. Generally, fewer services are available.Domestic Violence Victims:
• Families escaping a domestic violence situation are placed in a separate shelter system, designed to provide specialized services and protection.People with HIV/AIDS:
• Homeless individuals and families with an HIV/AIDS member also are placed in a separate system, which includes shelters, hotel rooms, or private apartments that should meet their medical needs. Services are specialized as wellTeenagers:
• Homeless teenagers without families also are placed in separately administered shelters, with a range of social and medical services.Q: How long do most people stay in shelters?
A: The average shelter stay for a family is just under a year. For adults, the stays can vary from a brief period to many years.
Q: Who is in charge of the shelter system?
A: The Department of Homeless Services operates single adult and family shelters, the largest segment of the shelter system. The Human Resources Administration operates domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, and youth shelters.
Q: What can I do to help end homelessness?
A: You can volunteer with an organization that serves homeless New Yorkers, help start a volunteer-run shelter in your church or synagogue, or become active in efforts to promote low-income housing or other anti-poverty initiatives. Check out volunteer opportunities. Click on Take Action for our Homeless Action Network for crucial advocacy initiatives.