Facts About Homelessness in New York City

According to the New York Times, last year, New York City's homeless shelter population reached its highest levels ever since the Great Depression.

• In June 2015, there were more than 56,000 homeless people in New York City shelters. This included 11,702 families and 11,868 single adults.
• During the course of each year, more than 116,000 different homeless New Yorkers, including more than 42,000 different children, sleep in the shelter system.
• In June 2015, an average of 23,286 homeless children slept each night in municipal shelters, the highest level ever recorded.
• At least 3,357 more homeless individuals were counted living on the streets or in subways in January 2014. The majority are in Manhattan.
• The large majority of street homeless New Yorkers are living with mental illness or other severe health problems. 
• African-American and Latino New Yorkers are disproportionately affected by homelessness.  Approximately 57 percent of New York City homeless shelter residents are African-American, 31 percent are Latino, 8 percent are white, and 4 percent are of another or unknown ethnicity.

Sources: NYC Department of Homeless Services, Coalition for the Homeless