The homelessness crisis in the Blue State of New York has worsened dramatically in just two years, according to a report released Wednesday by New York State Auditor Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Between January 2022 and January 2024, homelessness reportedly more than doubled in the Empire State, compared to a 21 percent increase in the rest of the country. According to the report, the arrival of large numbers of asylum seekers in New York City has led to a significant increase in homelessness.
“We have seen an alarming increase in the number of homeless people in recent years, with more New Yorkers experiencing housing insecurity,” DiNapoli said.
The report found that while the crisis was partially caused by eviction proceedings, a lack of affordable housing, and rising rents, asylum seekers accounted for 88 percent of the increase in sheltered homelessness in New York City. It is said that there is.
U.S. homelessness rises to double digits, number of asylum seekers on the rise, housing affordability crisis also to blame
A homeless person sits with his belongings on a subway car in New York City on December 27, 2024. (Robert Nickelsburg)
“The influx of asylum seekers is a major reason for the increase in the number of homeless people in New York City and in some counties across the state,” DiNapoli said.
“Many of the tens of thousands of asylum seekers who came to New York had nowhere to stay, driving much of the spending and growth in the homeless population,” he continued.
Homeless tents are seen in a lockdown area in New York on December 27, 2024. (Selcuk Achar/Anadolu)
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The overall number of homeless people in the United States reached a new peak last year, with New Yorkers reportedly accounting for 20% of them, at 158,000. The state's homelessness rate was about 8 per 1,000 people, higher than every state except Hawaii and the District of Columbia.
The surge in homelessness in New York state was also largely due to New York City, which accounted for 93% of the state's total homeless population.
Additionally, children under 18 make up one-third of the state's homeless population, the highest rate in the nation. The number of homeless children has more than doubled in the last two years to 50,000.
A homeless man lies on a sidewalk in New York on December 27, 2024. (Selcuk Achar/Anadolu)
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DiNapoli said more needs to be done to keep people, especially families with children, at home.
According to the report, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced affordable housing proposals in their recent 2025 policy speeches.
New York state also currently has a five-year, $25 billion housing plan in place to “build or preserve 100,000 units of affordable housing,” according to the Office of Budget and Policy Analysis.
