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Homelessness down 12 percent from last year

By David Freedlander, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

March 5, 2008

The number of homeless living on the streets of New York is down 12 percent since last year and 25 percent since 2005, city officials announced Tuesday.

There is an estimated 3,306 homeless individuals in the city - or about 1 for every 2,485 New York City resident, according to officials. Manhattan had the largest population of homeless, with 1,253. About a third of the homeless in the city - or 1,141 - were found in the subways.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday also unveiled a new initiative which would encourage people to call 311 when they see a homeless person on the streets or in the subway so that a team of caseworkers can help them.

"We have to do something, and we believe we can do something" to help, Bloomberg said.

The Coalition for the Homeless, an advocacy group, said the numbers were not an accurate reflection of the problem.

The numbers the city released are based on a survey of the homeless population found on streets and in the subway system in January. The survey was first taken in 2005.

"The only genuine solution to ending homelessness is the creation of additional permanent supportive housing for homeless New Yorkers," said Patrick Markee, Senior Policy Analyst at the coalition.