Basic Facts About Homelessness

Coalition for the Homeless provides up-to-date information on New York City's homeless population. In recent years, homelessness in New York City has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression.  You can find detailed information about homelessness -- including comprehensive statistics and historical data -- at the following pages:

Basic Facts About Homelessness: New York City
Basic Facts About Homelessness: New York City Data and Charts

In New York City...

• Each night more than 55,000 people -- including more than 21,000 children -- experience homelessness.

• Currently 50,700 homeless men, women, and children bed down each night in the NYC municipal shelter system.  

• Additionally, more than 5,000 homeless adults and children sleep each night in other public and private shelters, and thousands more sleep rough on the streets or in other public spaces.

• During the course of each year, more than 105,000 different homeless New Yorkers, including nearly 40,000 children, sleep at least one night in the municipal shelter system.

• The number of homeless New Yorkers in shelters has risen by more than 60 percent over the past decade.

New York City's Homeless Shelter Population: A Snapshot (March 2013)


• Total number of homeless people in municipal shelters: 50,748
• Number of homeless families: 12,121
• Number of homeless children: 21,219
• Number of homeless adults in families: 18,490
• Number of homeless single adults: 11,039
• Number of homeless single men:  8,244
• Number of homeless single women: 2,795

Basic Facts About Homelessness: Downloads


The following documents are available for download:

• New York City Homelessness: Fact Sheet
• The New York City Homeless Shelter Population: Charts
• The New York City Homeless Shelter Population: Historical Data, 1983-Present