Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

City Survey Finds Homeless on Streets Up Nearly 50 Percent Across Manhattan

By Patrick Hedlund | March 19, 2010 7:40pm | Updated on March 19, 2010 7:18pm
Homelessness is on the rise across Manhattan and the rest of the city, a new report by the city says.
Homelessness is on the rise across Manhattan and the rest of the city, a new report by the city says.
View Full Caption
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

By Patrick Hedlund

DNAinfo News Editor

MANHATTAN — The number of homeless people living on Manhattan's streets jumped by nearly 50 percent since last year, outpacing increases in all but one of the outer boroughs, according to the Department of Homeless Services’ annual street survey.

The agency’s report — conducted by volunteers during a single day in January — found that Manhattan’s street homeless population shot up from 777 last year to 1,145 this year, a 47 percent spike.

More than 2,500 volunteers canvassed the streets and subway stations, and discovered that the total number of homeless was up nearly 34 percent over last year to more than 3,000 citywide, the report said.

The city said that despite the increase over the past year, Manhattan's homelessness numbers are down 37 percent from 2005, when the agency found 1,805 homeless on the streets.

Officials said New York City’s ratio of street homeless — 1 in 2,688 residents — remains one of the lowest of any major city in the country.

"These are challenging times that have had an impact on our street homeless population," said DHS Commissioner Robert Hess, noting that the agency would increase outreach efforts and expand the availability of alternatives to the shelter system.

The report does not count people living in homeless shelters.

A report by the nonprofit agency Coalition for the Homeless found 39,256 men, women and children in city shelters as of Jan. 31, 2010.