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 TableYearRest of NationNew York20238.2%39.1%202411.6%53.1%2025-2.2%-7.9%
Figure 2 – Percent Change in Overall Number of Homeless Individuals by Continuum of Care in New York, 2024 – 2025
Figure 2 Data TableContinuum of Care NameOverall HomelessColumbia, Greene Counties CoC58.9%Troy/Rensselaer County CoC55.2%Schenectady City & County CoC41.7%Binghamton, Union Town/Broome, Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Cortland, Tioga Counties CoC35.0%Jamestown, Dunkirk/Chautauqua County CoC23.7%Newburgh, Middletown/Orange County CoC23.0%New York Balance of State17.1%Buffalo, Niagara Falls/Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming Counties CoC14.1%Nassau, Suffolk Counties CoC13.4%Rochester, Irondequoit, Greece/Monroe County CoC13.1%Utica, Rome/Oneida, Madison Counties CoC12.2%Yonkers, Mount Vernon/Westchester County CoC7.4%Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County CoC5.8%Franklin, Essex Counties CoC5.4%Albany City & County CoC4.5%Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs/Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Hamilton Counties Co3.0%Syracuse, Auburn/Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga Counties CoC2.8%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%
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 Table2025Share of Overall Homeless Under 18Troy/Rensselaer County CoC39.9%Yonkers, Mount Vernon/Westchester County CoC37.4%Nassau, Suffolk Counties CoC32.9%Newburgh, Middletown/Orange County CoC32.7%Jamestown, Dunkirk/Chautauqua County CoC32.5%New York City CoC32.3%New York State Total31.7%Columbia, Greene Counties CoC31.1%Buffalo, Niagara Falls/Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Genesee, Wyoming Counties CoC31.0%Poughkeepsie/Dutchess County CoC28.7%Schenectady City & County CoC27.7%Kingston/Ulster County CoC26.0%Albany City & County CoC25.6%Syracuse, Auburn/Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga Counties CoC23.8%Rochester, Irondequoit, Greece/Monroe County CoC23.4%Elmira/Steuben, Allegany, Livingston, Chemung, Schuyler Counties CoC22.7%Rockland County CoC22.3%Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates Counties CoC21.1%New York Balance of State21.0%Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs/Saratoga, Washington, Warren, Hamilton Counties Co20.2%Binghamton, Union Town/Broome, Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Cortland, Tioga Counties CoC19.4%Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence Counties CoC19.0%Utica, Rome/Oneida, Madison Counties CoC16.4%Rest of Nation14.6%Ithaca/Tompkins County CoC11.0%Franklin, Essex Counties CoC0.0%