Mamdani's Homeless Count: City Seeks Volunteers to Help Tally Unsheltered New Yorkers
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is urging all New Yorkers to get involved in an effort that aims to better understand the city's homeless population. As part of his administration's plans to bolster homeless outreach efforts, the city will conduct its annual point-in-time count of unsheltered individuals, known as the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) count.
The federal government requires cities receiving federal funding to complete this tally, which helps the city allocate resources and services more effectively. Unlike other major cities, New York City is an outlier due to its unique right-to-shelter policy, which guarantees a bed to anyone who requests one. However, the homeless population in NYC remains relatively small compared to other major cities, with only about 3% of unsheltered individuals living on the streets.
To get a more accurate picture of homelessness in the city, the Department of Social Services will conduct the count from January 27, and volunteers are needed to help spread out across the five boroughs. During the overnight count, which takes place from 10 pm to 4 am, volunteers will identify unsheltered individuals sleeping on subway platforms, streets, or in parks.
Last year's count revealed about 4,500 homeless New Yorkers living on the streets, a decrease of 360 compared to the previous year. Despite this progress, Commissioner Molly Wasow Park emphasized the importance of continued vigilance in addressing homelessness nationwide. "At a time when we're facing an onslaught of federal actions that threaten to gut the city's safety net and herald a concerning shift in the approach to addressing homelessness nationwide, we must all stand steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable amongst us."
Volunteers can sign up for this effort here. By participating in the HOPE count, New Yorkers can contribute to a better understanding of homelessness in the city and help support those struggling with housing insecurity.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is urging all New Yorkers to get involved in an effort that aims to better understand the city's homeless population. As part of his administration's plans to bolster homeless outreach efforts, the city will conduct its annual point-in-time count of unsheltered individuals, known as the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) count.
The federal government requires cities receiving federal funding to complete this tally, which helps the city allocate resources and services more effectively. Unlike other major cities, New York City is an outlier due to its unique right-to-shelter policy, which guarantees a bed to anyone who requests one. However, the homeless population in NYC remains relatively small compared to other major cities, with only about 3% of unsheltered individuals living on the streets.
To get a more accurate picture of homelessness in the city, the Department of Social Services will conduct the count from January 27, and volunteers are needed to help spread out across the five boroughs. During the overnight count, which takes place from 10 pm to 4 am, volunteers will identify unsheltered individuals sleeping on subway platforms, streets, or in parks.
Last year's count revealed about 4,500 homeless New Yorkers living on the streets, a decrease of 360 compared to the previous year. Despite this progress, Commissioner Molly Wasow Park emphasized the importance of continued vigilance in addressing homelessness nationwide. "At a time when we're facing an onslaught of federal actions that threaten to gut the city's safety net and herald a concerning shift in the approach to addressing homelessness nationwide, we must all stand steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable amongst us."
Volunteers can sign up for this effort here. By participating in the HOPE count, New Yorkers can contribute to a better understanding of homelessness in the city and help support those struggling with housing insecurity.
think its cool that ppl are gettin involved to help count & understand homelessness tho 
wanna make a diff, even if its just in a small way 
. I mean, it's crazy that our right-to-shelter policy is a thing here. I've met people who have been living on the streets for years, but they're still guaranteed a bed if they need one. It's like we're saying "you're homeless, but you're not forgotten". Anyway, 4,500 people are still struggling with housing insecurity - that's crazy 
. We gotta keep spreading awareness and helping out those in need.
they gotta make more public restrooms available, not just count people on the street 
I mean, we're lucky to have that right-to-shelter policy, but it's crazy how small the percentage is compared to other cities. Like, what can we do to help those who are struggling? We need more affordable housing options and services for people who need them most.
. It's a great way to get a better understanding of the issue and make a difference in our community. Plus, it's an amazing opportunity to meet some of the unsung heroes working with homeless populations. We need more people like them! 
I think its cool that volunteers are needed to help tally up homeless people in NYC, it makes sense to get more eyes on the streets, especially since they have this right-to-shelter policy 
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