Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
More Than 50,000 Slept In NYC Homeless Shelters Per Night In 2013
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Mar 12, 2014
Modified Mar 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Mar 12, 2014
Modified Mar 12, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The number of homeless individuals sleeping in city shelters crept over 50,000 last year, reaching the highest point ever according to an annual report by the Coalition for the Homeless. The data echoes the spike in homelessness seen under former Mayor Bloomberg, and has advocacy groups pushing Mayor de Blasio to make good on his campaign promises to address the epidemic.
The annual State of the Homeless report [pdf] was released today, showing that a record 53,615 homeless individuals spent the night in shelters from January 2013 to January 2014. That number is up from the already record number of people in shelters noted in 2012 and 2013; and even more sobering is the fact that the number of homeless families entering the shelter system increased 12 percent last year, with nearly 23,000 homeless children sleeping in shelters nightly.
Though Bloomberg had previously claimed combating homelessness was one of the cornerstones of his administration, the record number of homeless individuals both in and outside of the shelter system suggests that failed. But advocates say de Blasio's push to alleviate the city's homeless problem and add more affordable units to the housing stock may undo some of the damage—"The administration and all New Yorkers understand this really is the turning point,” Coalition for the Homeless executive director Mary Brosnahan told the Times. “The focus on housing is going to turn the tide." The new administration has already made moves to combat heavily documented problems within family shelters, and plans to remove 400 children from two shelters that were highly cited in multiple inspections.
Tagged
Coalition for the Homeless
homelessness
state of the homeless
Rebecca Fishbein
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: Spy magazine is doing a Substack pop-up
Because the "Irony Epidemic" is hitting inboxes in honor of Spy's 40th anniversary, here are your early links: West Village gated school street, Trump still promising $5,000 checks, butter is in and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 8:57 a.m. ET
Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony fall, NYPD says
Police say it's still unclear whether the pair jumped, fell or were pushed.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Bronx woman found dead and infant in critical condition after balcony fall, NYPD says
Police say it's still unclear whether the pair jumped, fell or were pushed.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
After Trump defunding, thousands losing rental assistance in NYC may finally have relief
By
David Brand
Blind man dismissed from grand jury duty can sue NY for discrimination, judge rules
By
Samantha Max
Gatorade recall affects drinks sold in New York and New Jersey
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .