Homelessness Falls Statewide, But Rises in Many New York Regions
The most commonly used data for measuring homelessness are U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Point-in-Time Count of the homeless population. The most recent data were released at the end of May 2026 based on a count conducted in January 2025.
After doubling between January 2022 and January 2024, homelessness in New York declined by 7.9 percent in January 2025 to 145,560. The decline of 12,459 was the largest among states, and was driven predominantly by New York City; however, declines were not universal across the state. In 17 of 25 regions known as Continuums of Care (CoCs), homelessness grew. In 11 regions, it grew by more than 10 percent, with the highest increases in Columbia and Greene Counties, Troy/Rensselaer County and Schenectady.
Even with the overall decline in the number of homeless individuals, the share that are children remains stubbornly high: at 31.7 percent, New York’s rate is more than double that of the rest of the nation.
The State continues to implement its multi-year housing plan and recently enacted statutory changes that will direct more school aid to districts with students experiencing homelessness. Comptroller DiNapoli has previously called for additional efforts to mitigate evictions and provide housing assistance, particularly to families with children.
While the State is dedicating more resources to housing, HUD is overhauling its approach for awarding federal funding away from “housing first” solutions and constricting eligibility for such assistance. Policies that can mitigate evictions and provide housing assistance, particularly to families with children, should continue to remain a focus of policymakers at federal, state and local levels.
Related Reports
New Yorkers in Need: Homelessness in New York State
New Yorkers in Need: The Housing Insecurity Crisis
Housing Assistance – Federal Funding and New York
Figure 1 – Change in Overall Number of Homeless Individuals from Prior Year, New York and the Rest of the Nation, 2023 – 2025
- Figure 1 Data Table
Year Rest of Nation New York 2023 8.2% 39.1% 2024 11.6% 53.1% 2025 -2.2% -7.9%
Source: HUD PIT Count
Figure 2 – Percent Change in Overall Number of Homeless Individuals by Continuum of Care in New York, 2024 – 2025
- Figure 2 Data Table
Continuum of Care Name Overall Homeless Columbia, Greene Counties CoC 58.9% Troy/Rensselaer County CoC 55.2% Schenectady City & County CoC 41.7% Binghamton, Union Town/Broome, Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Cortland, Tioga Counties CoC 35.0% Jamestown, Dunkirk/Chautauqua County CoC 23.7% Newburgh, Middletown/Orange County CoC 23.0% New York Balance of State 17.1% Buffalo, Niagara Falls/Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming Counties CoC 14.1% Nassau, Suffolk Counties CoC 13.4% Rochester, Irondequoit, Greece/Monroe County CoC 13.1% Utica, Rome/Oneida, Madison Counties CoC 12.2% Yonkers, Mount Vernon/Westchester County CoC 7.4% Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County CoC 5.8% Franklin, Essex Counties CoC 5.4% Albany City & County CoC 4.5% Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs/Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Hamilton Counties Co 3.0% Syracuse, Auburn/Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga Counties CoC 2.8% Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates Counties CoC -5.6% Kingston/Ulster County CoC -8.3% New York City CoC -10.3% Ithaca/Tompkins County CoC -13.3% Rockland County CoC -13.8% Elmira/Steuben, Allegany, Livingston, Chemung, Schuyler Counties CoC -16.5% Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence Counties CoC -18.5%
Source: HUD PIT Count
Figure 3 – Share of Overall Number of Homeless Individuals that are Under 18 Years of Age in New York, by Continuum of Care, 2025
- Figure 3 Data Table
2025 Share of Overall Homeless Under 18 Troy/Rensselaer County CoC 39.9% Yonkers, Mount Vernon/Westchester County CoC 37.4% Nassau, Suffolk Counties CoC 32.9% Newburgh, Middletown/Orange County CoC 32.7% Jamestown, Dunkirk/Chautauqua County CoC 32.5% New York City CoC 32.3% New York State Total 31.7% Columbia, Greene Counties CoC 31.1% Buffalo, Niagara Falls/Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming Counties CoC 31.0% Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County CoC 28.7% Schenectady City & County CoC 27.7% Kingston/Ulster County CoC 26.0% Albany City & County CoC 25.6% Syracuse, Auburn/Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga Counties CoC 23.8% Rochester, Irondequoit, Greece/Monroe County CoC 23.4% Elmira/Steuben, Allegany, Livingston, Chemung, Schuyler Counties CoC 22.7% Rockland County CoC 22.3% Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates Counties CoC 21.1% New York Balance of State 21.0% Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs/Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Hamilton Counties Co 20.2% Binghamton, Union Town/Broome, Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Cortland, Tioga Counties CoC 19.4% Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence Counties CoC 19.0% Utica, Rome/Oneida, Madison Counties CoC 16.4% Rest of Nation 14.6% Ithaca/Tompkins County CoC 11.0% Franklin, Essex Counties CoC 0.0%
Note: Value is 0% in Franklin County.
Source: HUD PIT Count