The document discusses rising homelessness in New York City under the current mayor. It notes that the number of homeless people, families, and children in NYC shelters has increased significantly (69%, 80%, and 69% respectively) since the mayor took office. The average length of shelter stays for families has also increased substantially. The widening gap between housing costs and incomes in NYC has contributed to the rise in homelessness. While the city now spends over $1 billion annually on homeless services, policies under the current mayor that eliminated housing assistance have failed to address the root causes of homelessness. The document outlines housing-based and prevention-focused solutions that the next mayor can implement to reduce homelessness in NYC.

1. Record Homelessness in NYC:
What the Next Mayor Can Do
Talking Transition
November 18, 2013

2. Rising Family Homelessness in NYC
• In September, an average of 52,351 homeless
people slept each night in NYC shelter system –
up 69% since current mayor took office.
• Includes 12,464 homeless families – up 80%
since mayor took office.
• Includes 22,136 homeless children – up 69%
since mayor took office.
• Avg. shelter stays for families with kids now 13 ½
months (409 days).
• Homeless families & kids nearly four-fifths (79%)
of NYC shelter population.

3. 55,000
Number of Homeless People Each Night
in the NYC Shelter System, 1983-2013
September 2013:
52,351
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
Source: NYC Department of Homeless Services and Human Resources Administration and NYCStat, shelter census reports
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
10,000
1983
1984
15,000

4. Number of Homeless People Each Night in the
NYC Shelter System, September 2013
11,044
22,136
Total NYC
Municipal
Shelter
Population:
52,351
Children
19,171
Adults in Families
Single Adults
Source: City of New York, NYCStat

5. Number of Homeless Families Each
Night in NYC Shelter System, 1983-2013
September 2013:
12,464
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
Source: NYC Department of Homeless Services and Human Resources Administration and NYC Stat, shelter census reports
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
0
1983
1984
2,000

6. Number of Homeless Children Each
Night in NYC Shelter System, 1983-2013
September 2013:
22,136
20,000
15,000
10,000
Source: NYC Department of Homeless Services and Human Resources Administration and NYCStat, shelter census reports
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
0
1983
1984
5,000

7. Rising Family Homelessness in NYC
• NYC housing affordability gap growing wider.
• Unemployment rate still high in NYC, higher in
Bronx and Brooklyn where most low-income
New Yorkers live.
• From 2007-2011, during economic downturn,
NYC median apartment rents went up 8.5%
but median renter incomes fell 6.8%.
• 78% of low-income renters have high rent
burdens.

8. NYC's Widening Housing Affordability
Gap, 2007-2011
(Percentage Change in Rents and Incomes)
10.0%
8.5%
8.0%
6.0%
4.0%
2.0%
Median Renter Incomes
0.0%
-2.0%
Median Rents
-4.0%
-6.0%
-8.0%
-10.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau data from NYU Furman Center report (August 2013)
-6.8%

9. Rising Family Homelessness in NYC
• NYC now spends more than $1 billion/year on
homeless shelter and services – up 85% under
current mayor.
• Avg. annual cost to shelter a homeless family
is $37,600 – up 23% since mayor took office.
• NYC homelessness now a major contributor
to national homelessness problem.
• 1 of 6 homeless families in shelters
nationwide is in NYC.

10. 85% Increase in Homeless Services
Expenditures Under Current Mayor
(NYC Department of Homeless Services Expenses in Millions)
$1,001.4
$1,000.0
$800.0
$600.0
$540.2
$400.0
$200.0
$0.0
FY 2002
Source: NYC Office of Management and Budget
FY 2013

11. NYC Homeless Population a Significant
Share of All Homeless Nationwide
(Percentage of Estimated U.S. Homeless Population in NYC)
16%
16%
13%
14%
12%
10%
8%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
Total Homeless Population
Total Homeless Families
Total Homeless Families in
Shelters
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "2012 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness" (Dec 2012)

12. Rising Family Homelessness in NYC
• Recent policy failures a major cause of rising &
record NYC homelessness.
• Under Mayors Koch, Dinkins & Giuliani the City
targeted Federal housing resources (e.g. public
housing) to help homeless families get homes.
• Current mayor ended that policy in 2005,
substituted temporary subsidies which worked
badly, then eliminated all housing aid in 2011.
• Previously 1 in 4 families entering shelter was
formerly-homeless – now 63%.

13. Fewer Homeless Families Helped by
Federal Housing Aid, FY 1990-FY 2012
3,975
2,880
2,852
3,418
3,035
3,530
3,646
3,537
2,857
2,743
2,010
3,000
2,183
4,000
3,202
5,000
4,042
6,000
3,615
5,777
(No. Moved from Shelters with Public Housing and Sect 8 Vouchers)
204
211
327
489
678
1,000
626
779
2,000
0
FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: Mayor's Management Report and NYC Department of Homeless Services

14. Fewer Homeless Families Aided by
City-Assisted Housing, FY 1990-FY 2012
1,181
1,204
999
1,500
1,392
2,000
1,908
2,071
(Number Moved from Shelters to City-Subsidized Apartments)
106
29
134
250
173
350
158
103
156
309
188
184
202
250
304
500
327
514
1,000
0
FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY FY
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Source: Mayor's Management Report and NYC Department of Homeless Services

15. Shelter Return Rates for Time-Limited
and Non-Time-Limited Housing Aid
50%
49.4%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
3.9%
5%
4.1%
All Subsidized
Housing**
Section 8
Voucher**
1.4%
0%
Advantage
program*
NYCHA Public
Housing**
Source: *NYC Department of Homeless Services (through Aug. 2013), **Vera Institute, "Understanding Family Homelessness" (200 5)

16. Percentage of All Families Entering NYC
Shelters Who Were Formerly-Homeless
70%
63%
60%
Bloomberg Cuts Off
Homeless Families from
Federal Housing
Programs
50%
55%
45%
37%
40%
29%
30%
22%
24%
25%
27%
24%
49%
39%
40% 40%
26%
20%
10%
0%
Source:
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
FY
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
YTD
NYC Department of Homeless Services

17. Solutions to Homelessness in NYC
• Mayor-elect de Blasio and his new administration can
build on proven housing-based solutions to the
problem of homelessness.
• Research & evidence overwhelmingly show that longterm subsidized housing reduces family homelessness.
• Wealth of research & experience point to success and
cost savings from permanent supportive housing for
homeless people living with special needs.
• Solutions endorsed by United to End Homelessness
coalition of 130 groups.

18. Solutions to Homelessness in NYC
Housing-based solutions:
1. Resume priority referrals of homeless families to
public housing and Section 8 vouchers (at least 2,500
families/yr. to public housing).
2. Partner with State to create a new rental assistance
program modelled on Section 8 vouchers.
3. Partner with State on a “New York/New York IV
Agreement” to create permanent supportive
housing.
4. New NYC housing plan should set aside at least 10%
of apartments for homeless New Yorkers.

19. Solutions to Homelessness in NYC
Eliminate barriers to shelter and punitive policies:
1. Eliminate bureaucratic barriers to shelter for
homeless families at intake centers.
2. Rescind proposed shelter-denial rules for homeless
adults.
3. Reform rules that threaten loss of shelter to protect
families, children, and people living with disabilities.
Reform shelter system:
1. Phase out use of apartment buildings as temporary
shelter and use of commercial hotels & motels.

20. Solutions to Homelessness in NYC
Expand homelessness prevention:
1. Enhance funding for homelessness prevention
programs, including legal services and eviction
prevention services.
2. Expand access to prevention rent subsidy programs
(e.g., FEPS program).
3. Enhance rent-increase exemption programs to assist
seniors and tenants living with disabilities (SCRIE and
DRIE programs).