JFK Airport’s AirTrain Terminal Facing Homelessness Crisis

The AirTrain terminal at JFK Airport has turned into a hub for homeless individuals, with many aggressively begging from travelers and taking over restroom facilities, seemingly unchecked by Port Authority officers.

A considerable number of homeless people have sought refuge in crowded terminals, escaping the harsh winter and unsatisfactory conditions at city shelters, which has transformed this important transit point into a troubling experience for those traveling through.

“I’ve been here many times in the last few years,” a traveler, wishing to remain anonymous and identified as Michael, shared after returning from Florida. “But this morning… it was definitely the worst I’ve seen.”

Upon entering the station, Michael recounted that men were shouting, asking for money. “The police didn’t intervene at all while one man followed us, asking for cash. Even after I said I couldn’t help, he insisted I pull out money from the ATM,” he explained.

Public restrooms are reportedly unusable as many homeless individuals occupy the stalls, with some even seen sleeping on the floors while tourists navigate around them with their luggage.

“It’s a definite issue,” expressed Arata, 69, who works at the terminal’s newsstand. “Every day, four out of five people outside are homeless. They confront customers, and the police do nothing about it.”

The AirTrain serves as a critical connector between JFK Terminal, the Long Island Railroad, and the subway, making it an essential transit link for visitors to the city.

With the recent cold snap, many homeless individuals have found their way to the terminal, although some were also spotted during a warmer 50-degree day earlier this month.

“I really think the city needs to take action,” remarked Isik Deb, a student from Stony Brook University.

However, a 67-year-old homeless man named Griffin expressed frustration with the shelter system. “Shelters aren’t good,” he said as he stood near the Sutphin Boulevard entrance. “They take everything. There’s no way to dry your shoes without giving them to someone. So, you end up walking around in socks, and then you’re really in trouble.”

Griffin noted that while the terminal is tricky, it can be manageable. “Just don’t cause trouble and you’ll be okay. Most of us don’t bother anyone. But it’s crowded now. There’s a lot of chaos—arguing and fighting, especially in the bathrooms.”

This situation mirrors New York City’s broader homelessness crisis. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 158,000 people in New York will lack permanent housing in 2024, part of a national surge with more than 771,000 homeless individuals, reflecting a 53% increase from the previous year.

Factors like a backlog of evictions stemming from the pandemic, rising rents, and a lack of affordable housing contribute to this issue, which sees New York’s homelessness rate reaching 81 per 10,000 residents.

In the past year alone, New York City reported 140,134 homeless individuals, an increase from 88,025 in 2023. Estimates suggest that over 130,000 people utilized city shelters in just October, with many others living on the streets.

Critics argue that Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s newly adopted approach—stopping homeless encampment sweeps and promising new public restrooms—has not provided adequate solutions.