New York’s homeless population is the highest in nearly 20 years

An annual survey of the number of homeless people in New York City found an estimated 4,140 people living unsheltered this year, compared to 4,042 last year, marking the highest number since 2005.

Homelessness rose significantly in Queens (46%) and Staten Island (50%). It fell 12% in Brooklyn.

Despite the city struggling to shelter 70,000 migrants nightly, officials say assylum seekers are not the reason behind the rise.

Efforts to reduce street homelessness include moving 2,000 unsheltered individuals into permanent housing since Mayor Eric Adams took office.

The city also enforced a 30-day shelter limit for single adult migrants recently.

However, challenges persist due to systemic failures at all government levels. Some even question the accuracy of the survey, suggesting it undercounts the unsheltered population.