New York City Homelessness Reaches Five-Year High

Street homelessness in New York City has reached its highest point in five years, according to data from the Mayor’s Management Report. The annual survey, conducted in March, estimated nearly 5,000 unsheltered individuals living on streets, in parks, under highways, and in public transit stations.

This figure represents an 11% increase compared to fiscal year 2025 and a substantial 45% surge from fiscal year 2022. The data indicates a consistent rise in street homelessness during each survey since fiscal year 2022, a period that includes former Mayor Eric Adams's term and the initial phase of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration.

The report noted that the survey was postponed from its typical January timeframe to March due to severe winter weather. However, the average temperature on the day of the March survey was nearly 60 degrees Fahrenheit, which the report states was the highest on record for the survey day and approximately 20 degrees warmer than in recent years. The findings were published near the end of a section on homelessness within the report and were characterized as potentially influenced by the weather delay.