New York City is witnessing a significant 53% rise in its shelter system population, as unveiled in Mayor Eric Adams’s recent preliminary management report. This sharp increase, detailed in the report covering July to October of 2023, is largely attributed to the influx of migrants, particularly asylum seekers.
As per the Department of Homeless Services’ quarterly review, included in a comprehensive 432-page report, over half the newcomers to the city’s shelters during this period sought asylum. The stark numbers show an average daily count of 83,985 individuals in city shelters, a considerable leap from the 54,738 recorded in 2022.
Particularly impacted are family units. Entries to shelters for families with children surged by 147%, while those for adult families without children saw an even steeper rise of 185%. Noteworthy, however, is the downturn in the average duration of shelter stays.
Families with children now spend about 29% less time in the system, and the reduction is about 10% for single adults, compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
To manage the escalating demand on the sheltering system, Mayor Adams implemented a cap on the length of stays — initially set at 60 days in July and subsequently decreased to 30 days in September. While the report stops short of linking these imposed time limits to the shortened stays directly, the Department of Homeless Services points to the substantial migrant arrivals as a key factor leading to a “larger proportion” of residents leaving the shelters sooner.
In response to the persistent border crisis, now entering its third year, New York City has established over 210 emergency shelter sites and accommodated in excess of 170,700 migrants, as reported by city officials. The administration continues to grapple with the growing challenge of providing shelter amidst an ongoing and complex migrant wave.