Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story

I wanted to take a moment to talk about a number that has been weighing heavily on my heart. Did you know that there are over a half million people in America without a place to call home? 582,462 moms, dads, children, friends and loved ones to be exact. That’s larger than the population of Sacramento, CA. 

Every January, there is a coordinated effort across all cities in the United States, called the Point-In-Time Count, to determine how many people are living in shelters or on the street. It takes a team of dedicated individuals, including sheriffs, social workers, and volunteers to scour the streets across a 10-day period. The latest numbers are staggering, yet as robust as this effort is, these numbers are likely underestimated. People staying on the street or in shelters are easier to include in counts, but someone that has found temporary shelter at a friend’s house or has earned enough to get a hotel for a few nights, for example, may go uncounted. In addition, localities are only required to report unsheltered homeless numbers every two years. The results from the Point-In-Time Count determine where government funding and resources should flow, and inaccuracies can negatively impact support for communities where homelessness can be less visible.

While last year's numbers showed that homelessness has stayed relatively steady since 2020, some support offered to individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, like the eviction moratorium has ended. There has been expansion in rental assistance programs and federal housing vouchers, but the numbers are starting to climb again. Since July 2022, the number of people staying in the NYC shelter system has steadily increased, reaching over 70,000 people, with many more sleeping in subways and streets across all five boroughs. 

If you are familiar with our organization, staff, and volunteers you know we do our best to provide weekly meals to those experiencing poverty and homelessness and connect them to all types of resources: housing vouchers, identification cards, state benefits, and so much more. And because we understand that it can be difficult to navigate the red tape of applications and find landlords who accept people using vouchers, we walk alongside our guests to help them overcome barriers and advocate for services because everyone deserves a place to call home.

So, what can you do to help? You can partner with City Relief by volunteering, donating, creating a fundraiser, interning (summer opportunities open now!) or just spreading the word. Better yet, invite a friend to join you! You and your friends can make a bigger difference than you think. 

Thank you for taking the time to keep up with us. Let’s work together to end homelessness in the New York City Metro area and across the country.

Sincerely,

Josiah Haken