The homelessness disaster has dramatically worsened within the blue state of New York inside simply two years, based on a report launched Wednesday by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. Dinapoli.
Between January 2022 to January 2024, homelessness reportedly greater than doubled within the Empire State, whereas the remainder of the nation solely noticed a progress of 21 p.c. In keeping with the report, the mass arrival of asylum seekers in New York Metropolis brought about the large soar in homelessness.
“An growing variety of New Yorkers are experiencing housing insecurity, with an alarming improve in recent times within the variety of homeless,” Dinapoli stated.
Whereas the disaster was partially pushed by eviction proceedings, lack of inexpensive housing and elevated lease, asylum seekers accounted for 88 p.c of the rise in sheltered homelessness in New York Metropolis, based on the report.
A homeless individual sits with their belongings on Dec. 27, 2024, on a subway automobile in New York Metropolis. (Robert Nickelsberg)
“The inflow of asylum seekers has been a key purpose for progress within the variety of homeless in New York City, and even in some downstate counties,” DiNapoli stated.
“Lots of the tens of 1000’s of asylum seekers that got here to New York had no place to remain and drove up spending and a big portion of the expansion of the homeless inhabitants,” he continued.
A homeless individual’s tent is seen in a cordoned off space in New York on Dec. 27, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu)
SPENDING ON HOMELESSNESS SPIKES TO A ‘SHOCKING’ AMOUNT IN PORTLAND METRO AREA
Whereas U.S. homelessness has total reached a brand new peak final yr, New Yorkers reportedly account for 20% of it at 158,000 folks. The state’s charge of homelessness, at about 8 per 1,000 folks, was larger than each state apart from Hawaii and the District of Columbia.
The spike in New York’s homelessness was additionally primarily pushed by New York Metropolis, which accounted for 93% of the state’s complete variety of homeless.
Moreover, youngsters below the age of 18 made up a 3rd of the state’s homeless inhabitants, one of many highest shares within the nation. The variety of homeless youngsters has greater than doubled between the 2 years to 50,000 folks.
A homeless individual lies on the sidewalk in New York on Dec. 27, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu)
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DiNapoli stated extra must be achieved to assist preserve folks of their houses, particularly households with youngsters.
In keeping with the report, New York Gov. Kathey Hochul and New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams have introduced inexpensive housing proposals of their current 2025 coverage addresses.
New York state can be at present implementing a five-year $25 billion housing plan “to create or protect 100,000 inexpensive houses,” based on the Workplace of Price range Coverage and Evaluation.
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