ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State’s homeless population declined in the past year, even as communities outside of New York City saw sharp rises, according to new analysis by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Department’s (HUD) most recent data show that the homeless population in New York dropped from January 2024 by nearly eight percent in January 2025. The decline of 12,459 people was driven primarily by declines in New York City. DiNapoli says homelessness in many parts of the state, including the Capital Region, is up.
Children make up 31.7% of the state’s homeless popular, which is double the share in the rest of the country.
“While the number of homeless declined, there’s a lot of work left to do,” DiNapoli said. “The problem is widespread and it is not confined to major cities. In particular, the public, private and nonprofit sectors need to work together to address the crisis of so many children experiencing homelessness in New York.”
The report notes that the state is moving ahead with its multi-year housing plan and recently enacted changes, which will direct more school aid to districts with homeless students.