On Wednesday, homeless individuals in New York City endured frigid temperatures, with the death toll from the severe cold reaching ten. Many believe the extreme weather conditions are overwhelming the city’s shelter resources.
Amidst rising scrutiny, Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s administration is urged to enhance measures aimed at relocating homeless individuals from the streets, especially after ten deaths were reported due to the cold snap. Post reporters observed several homeless people braving the bitter conditions across all five boroughs.
George Leafus, who has been homeless since late 2022, shared his experience outside the Jamaica Center Parsons/Archer subway station, noting that he hasn’t had any recent interactions with outreach workers or law enforcement.
He expressed a sense of isolation, saying, “They have become less and less friendly with us…there are no cops. They don’t say anything. Which is better! I don’t want to be bothered by people asking about my living situation.” The Missouri native explained why he opts to stay outside: “If I wanted to be robbed or violated by someone, I’d be in a shelter. But I prefer to stay safe and alone.” He mentioned warming up at King Manor Museum Park or on transit when necessary.
“No one dies here,” Leafus stated, referencing the subway. “It’s cold, but that’s just the way things are.”
Miguel Rodriguez, a Navy veteran, remarked that he wasn’t shocked by the fatalities attributed to the cold. He recounted a struggle for food outside a subway station: “The colder it gets, the harder it is to survive. It gets tougher and tougher.”
Mamdani confirmed that ten individuals had died outside since Saturday, with at least six having previously interacted with city evacuation services. One victim, a 90-year-old woman with dementia, reportedly wandered outside during the intense storm.
While seven of the deceased are presumed to have died from hypothermia, the official cause of death will be established by a medical examiner.
AJ, a 27-year-old homeless man, expressed his reluctance to enter a shelter while outreach workers attempted to encourage him to do so. “Sometimes it’s harder to get into a shelter,” he explained from his spot at the Flatiron encampment on 18th Street. “Yeah, they came. But I’d rather be here. It’s not too cold now, but it will only get colder.”
Contrasting AJ’s perspective, Simon Martinez, who has lived on the streets for years, found the icy conditions unbearable while seeking refuge in Queens. “It’s cold, it’s cold,” he mentioned, highlighting the harsh reality of homeless life during the winter.
