New York City has seen a nearly 50% increase in its homeless shelters over the past four years, expanding from 333 to 499 facilities. This surge coincides with a doubling of the city's homeless population and a projected annual expenditure of $4.2 billion on homeless services.
The number of shelters specifically for single adults rose by 35%, from 155 to 209. Critics attribute this growth to policies that they argue prioritize ideology over practical solutions, leading to an worsening housing shortage.
"These numbers are the unfortunate side effect of politicians and their followers putting ideology over reality," said Councilwoman Joann Ariola. "Things like rent control might sound great on paper, but in reality, they mean less residential development, and fewer units on the market as landlords don’t have the funds needed to renovate when a tenant moves out. All of this means the housing shortage gets even worse, and the men and women in our shelter systems are the sad result of these policy failures."
As of June 30, the city's Department of Homeless Services (DHS) reported 83,407 residents in its shelter system, including 26,266 single adults. This figure is nearly double the average of 42,563 residents recorded in fiscal year 2022, which included 16,465 single adults. The total number of shelters increased from 333 in fiscal 2022 to 496 by fiscal 2024, with the daily homeless population averaging 86,321 during that period, including 20,468 single adults.
While the total number of shelters has remained relatively stable since 2024, current budget proposals indicate an increase in spending on homeless services. Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration has allocated $4.2 billion for DHS this fiscal year, an increase of $700 million from the previous year and $100 million more than in 2024, a period that saw significant strain from an influx of asylum seekers.
DHS spokesman Nicholas Jacobelli stated that the administration is taking "decisive action" to reform the shelter system. This includes phasing out the use of commercial hotels for families, closing aging or substandard facilities, and establishing new shelters in various parts of the city. "We are committed to creating safer, dignified settings for all the populations we serve, which includes placing more families in facilities that better support their needs," Jacobelli said.
Brooklyn has the highest concentration of homeless shelters with 153, followed by The Bronx with 136, and Queens with 113. Manhattan has 90 shelters, and Staten Island has 7. Brooklyn also leads in the number of adult-only shelters, with 77.
Community Board 12 in Queens, covering areas like Jamaica and Hollis, has the largest cluster of homeless shelters, with 35. Other areas with a high density of shelters include Community Board 16 in Brooklyn's Brownsville neighborhood (28 shelters) and Community Board 5 in East New York and New Lots (25 shelters).
Efforts to establish new shelters have faced community opposition. For example, a proposed 150-bed men's shelter in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, has been stalled for over three years due to protests. Similarly, plans for a 105-bed men's shelter in Bay Ridge have also encountered resistance.
Councilwoman Inna Vernikov and Assemblyman Kalman Yeger have been involved in legal efforts to block the conversion of existing facilities, such as a shelter for families in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, into a site for single men. Deputy Council Speaker Nantasha Williams expressed concerns that "no one community should be expected to shoulder a disproportionate share of the city’s shelter system," citing constituent worries about public safety, sanitation, and quality of life.
DHS maintains its commitment to the equitable distribution of shelter facilities across the city.