On November 13, 2009, there were nearly 37,000 people--including over 8,500 families and nearly 16,000 children--in New York City shelters. A more detailed report is here.

At the heart of our city's epidemic of homelessness is a shortage of affordable housing and living-wage jobs.

• » City-wide, the average asking rental price has risen to about $2,700 a month.¹
• » New York City started the 90's with some 925,000 units of low-cost ($500 or less per month) housing; it ended the decade with less than half that number.²
• » One out of three New York households pays more than 30 percent of its income for rent, the current Federal measure of housing affordability. One out of four pays more than fifty percent.³
• » The "housing wage" for New York metro area (the minimal wage a family needs to afford a two bedroom at a fair market rate) is $25.35 an hour.⁴ The current minimum wage in New York is $7.15 per hour.

1 "What You Need to Know Before You Rent" Elizabeth A. Harris. The New York Times. August 22, 2008.
2 "The Housing Data Deficit: Why We Need a NYC Housing Census"; George Locker and Leonard Rodberg; The Five Borough Institute; November 2002.
3 Ibid.
4 "Out of Reach 2007-2008" National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Partnership Families Enjoy a Winter's Night Fantasy

In December, The Partnership for the Homeless hosted its 12th Annual Holiday Party for over 300 children and their parents who are currently living in a shelter or just recently moved into permanent housing. For a few hours, parents and children enjoyed games, crafts, spectacular facepainting, food, and a visit from Santa & Mrs. Claus. At the end of the party, each parent received a bag of gifts for their children, likely the only presents they received over the holidays. We'd like to thank all of our sponsors, who helped us make this a magical time for our families.