Note: The shelter census figures above are generated by adding the average nightly census figures in a given month for all shelters. This figure thus represents the total number of people sleeping in NYC shelters on a single night in a given month. The only exception is the MOCJ shelter census, which is not included because the data is not available in a similar format. Typically, there are several hundred beds in the MOCJ system, and so the total shelter census is technically slightly higher than reported.
Note also that the City did not begin including shelter census data for new arrivals as part of its monthly Local Law 79 report until August 2023.
Visit this page to understand the breakdown of New York City shelter systems.
The chart below, however, shows the longer historical trend in the DHS and HPD shelter census from January 1983. Since the City did not begin including shelter census data for new arrivals as part of its monthly Local Law 79 report until August 2023, the DHS shelter census* from April 2022 (when the increase in New Arrivals began) through July 2023 reflects aggregated data on both new arrivals and homeless longer-term New Yorkers in DHS shelters.
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*For this chart only, HPD shelter census figures reflect Local Law 79 item “Average daily overnight census for HPD emergency facilities: Family Living Center (HPD Shelter)” and the equivalent item from prior City reports.
For more information on the DHS and HPD shelter systems click here.
For an explanation of how mayoral policies impacted the number of people in shelters, click here.
