All topics / Health and Human Services
Department of Homeless Services
Established as an independent mayoral agency in 1993 after having been part of the Human Resources Administration, DHS traces its mandate to the 1981 Callahan v. Carey consent decree that established a right to shelter for homeless single adults in New York City.
What's working
- What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?: 6.4% — decreasing as CityFHEPS placements produce more stable, lasting exits
- On average, what is the number of adult families in shelters per day?: 1,956 families — decreasing as permanent-housing placements outpaced new shelter entries
- On average, what is the length of stay — Adult families in shelters?: 379 days — decreasing due to shorter stays among new arrivals and a deliberate push to speed exits
- and 10 more below
What's getting worse
- How many single adults enter the city's shelter system?: 30,852 adults — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge that began in 2022
- On average, what is the number of families with children in shelters per day?: 18,767 families — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge; growth leveled off in FY25
- How many adult families enter the city's shelter system?: 1,706 families — increasing sharply, driven by the asylum-seeker surge since 2022
- and 6 more below
Critical indicators
With a numeric target
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
6.4% — decreasing as CityFHEPS placements produce more stable, lasting exitsBeats target by 13.6%
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
6.4% — decreasing as CityFHEPS placements produce more stable, lasting exitsBeats target by 13.6%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 9.8% | 20% |
| FY23 | 9.5% | 20% |
| FY24 | 7.9% | 20% |
| FY25 | 6% | 20% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 6.4% | 20% |
The share of single adults who return to shelter within a year of a permanent-housing exit has fallen fairly steadily since FY22, which DHS attributes to the city's expanded investment in subsidized rental assistance (including CityFHEPS) generating more stable, lasting placements. The small uptick in the FY26 year-to-date figure reflects a rise specifically in returns among people who left shelter without a subsidy, partly offset by continued low return rates for subsidized exits.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Preliminary Mayor's Management Report, Fiscal 2026
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
1.9% — decreasing overall, though based on a very small number of families each yearBeats target by 10.6%
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
1.9% — decreasing overall, though based on a very small number of families each yearBeats target by 10.6%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 1.9% | 12.5% |
| FY23 | 0.9% | 12.5% |
| FY24 | 0.8% | 12.5% |
| FY25 | 0.6% | 12.5% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1.9% | 12.5% |
Adult families are DHS's smallest shelter population (well under 2,000 households on an average day), so this return-to-shelter rate is calculated on a small base and can swing several tenths of a point from a handful of cases in either direction. DHS reporting ties the FY22-FY25 decline to expanded subsidized housing placements, while the rise in the FY26 year-to-date figure is consistent with the small underlying case counts rather than a clear change in program performance.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Preliminary Mayor's Management Report, Fiscal 2026
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
3.2%Beats target by 9.3%
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year?
3.2%Beats target by 9.3%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual | Target |
|---|---|---|
| FY22 | 3.7% | 12.5% |
| FY23 | 3.7% | 12.5% |
| FY24 | 2.7% | 12.5% |
| FY25 | 3.7% | 12.5% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 3.2% | 12.5% |
3.2% in FY26 — met the City's own target for this indicator (9.3% below the 12.5% target), and it has stayed essentially flat over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
Without a numeric target
How many single adults enter the city's shelter system?
30,852 adults — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge that began in 2022
How many single adults enter the city's shelter system?
30,852 adults — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge that began in 2022
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 19,968 adults |
| FY23 | 35,019 adults |
| FY24 | 31,829 adults |
| FY25 | 30,852 adults |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Single adults entering DHS shelter nearly doubled between FY22 and FY23 and have stayed far above pre-2022 levels since, driven by the surge of asylum seekers arriving in New York City starting in spring 2022. DHS's own reporting calls FY23 an "unparalleled number of entries" for this population, and even after modest declines in FY24 and FY25, entries remain well above the under-20,000 levels seen in FY21 and FY22.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
How many people are estimated to be living unsheltered, according to the annual HOPE count?
4,504 individuals
How many people are estimated to be living unsheltered, according to the annual HOPE count?
4,504 individuals
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 3,439 individuals |
| FY23 | 4,042 individuals |
| FY24 | 4,140 individuals |
| FY25 | 4,504 individuals |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
4,504 individuals in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
In 2015, Mayor de Blasio introduced HOME-STAT, described as the most comprehensive street homelessness outreach effort ever deployed in a major American city. Outreach teams from nonprofit providers canvass the five boroughs 24 hours a day, compiling a by-name list from 311 calls and street encounters to track and engage unsheltered individuals. DHS notes that many people living on the street have experienced trauma or face mental health or substance use challenges, and it can take months of persistent contact before someone accepts services like a Safe Haven, a transitional housing option designed specifically for the chronically street homeless.
DHS: Unsheltered Outreach, HOME-STAT 24/7/365 street outreach across all 5 boroughs
On average, what is the number of single adults in shelters per day?
21,411 adults
On average, what is the number of single adults in shelters per day?
21,411 adults
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 16,465 adults |
| FY23 | 20,162 adults |
| FY24 | 20,468 adults |
| FY25 | 21,411 adults |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
21,411 adults in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended in the wrong direction over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
On average, what is the length of stay — Single adults in shelter?
378 days
On average, what is the length of stay — Single adults in shelter?
378 days
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 509 days |
| FY23 | 412 days |
| FY24 | 392 days |
| FY25 | 378 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
378 days in FY25 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
On average, what is the number of families with children in shelters per day?
18,767 families — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge; growth leveled off in FY25
On average, what is the number of families with children in shelters per day?
18,767 families — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge; growth leveled off in FY25
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 8,505 families |
| FY23 | 12,749 families |
| FY24 | 18,652 families |
| FY25 | 18,767 families |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
The number of families with children in DHS shelters more than doubled between FY22 and FY24, which the agency's own reporting ties directly to the wave of asylum-seeking families arriving in New York City since spring 2022. Growth leveled off in FY25 (18,652 to 18,767) as entries slowed and the city expanded exits to permanent housing, marking a stabilization after two years of rapid increases.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
On average, what is the number of adult families in shelters per day?
1,956 families — decreasing as permanent-housing placements outpaced new shelter entries
On average, what is the number of adult families in shelters per day?
1,956 families — decreasing as permanent-housing placements outpaced new shelter entries
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 1,493 families |
| FY23 | 2,416 families |
| FY24 | 2,224 families |
| FY25 | 1,956 families |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Adult families in shelter rose sharply from FY22 to FY23 as asylum-seeking families entered the system, but the daily count has fallen each year since even though new entries kept climbing. DHS credits sustained permanent-housing placements and, in FY25, a sharper focus on reducing long-term stays for offsetting the inflow and shrinking the average daily census.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
How many adult families enter the city's shelter system?
1,706 families — increasing sharply, driven by the asylum-seeker surge since 2022
How many adult families enter the city's shelter system?
1,706 families — increasing sharply, driven by the asylum-seeker surge since 2022
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 598 families |
| FY23 | 777 families |
| FY24 | 1,479 families |
| FY25 | 1,706 families |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Adult families entering DHS shelter nearly tripled from FY22 to FY25. DHS's Fiscal 2024 report specifically attributes a 90 percent jump in entries between FY23 and FY24 to the continued arrival of asylum-seeking families, and entries kept climbing another 15 percent in FY25 even as the agency worked to move existing adult families into permanent housing more quickly.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
How many families with children enter the city's shelter system?
20,425 families — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge that began in 2022
How many families with children enter the city's shelter system?
20,425 families — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker surge that began in 2022
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 7,061 families |
| FY23 | 14,339 families |
| FY24 | 21,265 families |
| FY25 | 20,425 families |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Families with children entering DHS shelter roughly tripled between FY22 and FY24 (up 48 percent in FY24 alone), a surge DHS's own reporting links to asylum-seeking families arriving in the city starting in spring 2022. Entries edged down 4 percent in FY25, but the agency notes they "remain significantly higher than recent years," indicating the elevated level is a lasting shift rather than a one-year spike.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
On average, what is the length of stay — Adult families in shelters?
379 days — decreasing due to shorter stays among new arrivals and a deliberate push to speed exits
On average, what is the length of stay — Adult families in shelters?
379 days — decreasing due to shorter stays among new arrivals and a deliberate push to speed exits
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 855 days |
| FY23 | 750 days |
| FY24 | 498 days |
| FY25 | 379 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Average length of stay for adult families in shelter has fallen by more than half since FY22, dropping every year through FY25. DHS attributes the decline both to a large share of recently arrived asylum-seeking families with inherently shorter stays and, more recently, a deliberate agency push in FY25 to speed exits for long-term shelter stayers in this population.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
On average, what is the length of stay — Families with children in shelter?
372 days — decreasing overall, though a recent uptick reflects a shift in who's still in shelter
On average, what is the length of stay — Families with children in shelter?
372 days — decreasing overall, though a recent uptick reflects a shift in who's still in shelter
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 534 days |
| FY23 | 437 days |
| FY24 | 354 days |
| FY25 | 372 days |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
Average length of stay for families with children in shelter fell sharply from FY22 to FY24 as a large wave of recently arrived asylum-seeking families — who by definition had short stays so far — pulled the average down, alongside faster housing placements. The FY25 uptick reversed part of that: DHS's preliminary FY26 report explains that as fewer new families entered shelter, the mix shifted toward longer-tenured households, which mechanically raises the average length of stay even without anyone individually staying longer.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Preliminary Mayor's Management Report, Fiscal 2026
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
How many adult shelter inspections with safety, maintenance or cleanliness deficiencies per 1,000 beds are there?
5.1
How many adult shelter inspections with safety, maintenance or cleanliness deficiencies per 1,000 beds are there?
5.1
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 1.7 |
| FY23 | 5.1 |
| FY24 | 5.1 |
| FY25 | Not available |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
This indicator has swung sharply within the lookback window — a simple up/down label would oversimplify it, so no trend badge is shown here. See the chart and table above for the full picture.
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
2.9% — decreasing as CityFHEPS voucher placements produce more stable exits
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
2.9% — decreasing as CityFHEPS voucher placements produce more stable exits
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 4.6% |
| FY23 | 4.3% |
| FY24 | 3.6% |
| FY25 | 3% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 2.9% |
The share of single adults returning to shelter within a year of a subsidized permanent-housing placement has declined steadily since FY22. DHS attributes this to the growth of subsidized rental-assistance placements, particularly through the CityFHEPS voucher program, which the agency says produces more stable, longer-lasting exits from shelter.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
21.4%
What percent of single adults who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
21.4%
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 22.1% |
| FY23 | 24.3% |
| FY24 | 19.1% |
| FY25 | 17.1% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 21.4% |
21.4% in FY26 — has no numeric target set by the City, and it has trended toward improvement over the past 3 years of reported data.
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
1.1% — increasing in relative terms, though DHS calls the rate still historically low
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
1.1% — increasing in relative terms, though DHS calls the rate still historically low
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 0.3% |
| FY23 | 0.3% |
| FY24 | 0.6% |
| FY25 | 1% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 1.1% |
This rate nearly quadrupled in relative terms (0.3% to 1.1%) between FY22 and FY26, but the underlying change is a small absolute increase in the number of families with children who returned to shelter after a subsidized housing placement, out of thousands of such placements each year. DHS's own reporting describes returns for families with children as ticking up only slightly and remaining "historically low" overall, even as the volume of subsidized exits grew substantially through CityFHEPS.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
8.5% — decreasing as subsidized rental assistance produces more stable exits citywide
What percent of families with children who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
8.5% — decreasing as subsidized rental assistance produces more stable exits citywide
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 15.2% |
| FY23 | 16.2% |
| FY24 | 11.8% |
| FY25 | 10.2% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 8.5% |
The share of families with children returning to shelter within a year of an unsubsidized exit has fallen by close to half since FY22. DHS attributes the broader decline in shelter returns for families to the city's growing investment in subsidized rental assistance, including CityFHEPS, which it says generates more sustained, permanent placements than exits without a subsidy.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
0.7% — decreasing, though based on a very small number of families each year
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Subsidized placement?
0.7% — decreasing, though based on a very small number of families each year
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 0.6% |
| FY23 | 0.4% |
| FY24 | 0.3% |
| FY25 | 0.4% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 0.7% |
Adult families who exit shelter with a housing subsidy are a very small group each year (well under 700 households), so this return-rate percentage is sensitive to just a few additional or fewer returning families year to year. DHS's Fiscal 2024 report explicitly notes that swings in adult-family placement figures are "partially explained by" the small size of this population, which is the most plausible driver of the up-and-down pattern here rather than a shift in program effectiveness.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
9.5% — decreasing, though based on a very small number of families each year
What percent of adult families who exited to permanent housing and returned to the city's shelter system within one year — Unsubsidized placement?
9.5% — decreasing, though based on a very small number of families each year
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 7.4% |
| FY23 | 5.8% |
| FY24 | 5.2% |
| FY25 | 1.7% |
| FY26 (YTD) | 9.5% |
This indicator tracks returns to shelter among adult families who exited without a housing subsidy — a very small group, with DHS reporting only around 100-140 such exits citywide in a typical year. With so few cases, a handful of additional families returning to shelter can swing the percentage by several points, which is the most likely explanation for the sharp jump in the FY26 year-to-date figure rather than a meaningful change in outcomes.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Preliminary Mayor's Management Report, Fiscal 2026
Why this is tracked
New York City has cycled through several rental-subsidy programs aimed at moving shelter residents into permanent housing quickly, a strategy known as rapid rehousing, starting with Housing Stability Plus in the mid-2000s and later Advantage New York. When state funding for Advantage was cut in 2011, homelessness rose 38 percent within three years, prompting the City to rebuild and expand rehousing programs. Today, subsidies like CityFHEPS account for the large majority of subsidized shelter exits, and DHS reports that the vast majority of households who receive a subsidized placement do not return to shelter within a year.
City Programs Help More Than 100,000 New Yorkers Exit Shelter or Avoid Shelter Since 2014, Urban Institute: Homelessness Prevention, Intake, and Shelter for Single Adults and Families
On average, what is the number of individuals in shelter per day?
86,403 individuals — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker influx; growth stabilized in FY25
On average, what is the number of individuals in shelter per day?
86,403 individuals — increasing overall, driven by the asylum-seeker influx; growth stabilized in FY25
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 45,563 individuals |
| FY23 | 66,195 individuals |
| FY24 | 86,321 individuals |
| FY25 | 86,403 individuals |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
The average number of people in DHS shelters per night nearly doubled between FY22 and FY24, and DHS's own performance reporting attributes this almost entirely to the influx of asylum seekers that began arriving in New York City in spring 2022 — as of June 2024, asylum seekers made up 37 percent of the shelter population and accounted for 79 percent of the growth since June 2022. The population held roughly flat in FY25, which DHS describes as a stabilization after several years of unprecedented growth, aided by expanded prevention and rehousing efforts.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report, NYC Comptroller, Asylum Seeker Census
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
On average, what is the number of individuals in adult families in shelters per day?
4,209 individuals — decreasing as permanent-housing placements outpaced new shelter entries
On average, what is the number of individuals in adult families in shelters per day?
4,209 individuals — decreasing as permanent-housing placements outpaced new shelter entries
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 3,130 individuals |
| FY23 | 5,119 individuals |
| FY24 | 4,749 individuals |
| FY25 | 4,209 individuals |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
The number of people living in adult-family shelter units rose sharply from FY22 to FY23 as asylum-seeking families entered the system, then declined over the following two years even as new entries kept rising. DHS credits continued permanent-housing placements, and in FY25 a specific push to reduce long-term stays, with bringing this population back down.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless
On average, what is the number of individuals in families with children in shelters per day?
60,805 individuals — increasing overall, but growth stalled in FY25 as entries slowed
On average, what is the number of individuals in families with children in shelters per day?
60,805 individuals — increasing overall, but growth stalled in FY25 as entries slowed
* Year to date — this fiscal year isn't complete, so it's not compared against prior years in the target/trend status above.
View as table
| Fiscal year | Actual |
|---|---|
| FY22 | 25,969 individuals |
| FY23 | 40,915 individuals |
| FY24 | 61,103 individuals |
| FY25 | 60,805 individuals |
| FY26 (YTD) | Not available |
The number of people living in shelter as part of families with children more than doubled between FY22 and FY24, which DHS's own reporting attributes to the wave of asylum-seeking families that began arriving in the city in spring 2022. Growth essentially stopped in FY25 (61,103 to 60,805) as entries slowed and the agency accelerated exits to permanent housing.
Researched July 15, 2026 — DHS, Fiscal 2024 Mayor's Management Report, DHS, Fiscal 2025 Mayor's Management Report
Why this is tracked
In Callahan v. Carey, a class action filed in 1979, a New York court ruled the state and city had a constitutional duty to shelter homeless men, citing New York's constitution. A consent decree finalized in 1981 formalized the City's obligation to provide food, shelter, supervision and security, and later cases, Eldredge v. Koch in 1982 and McCain v. Koch in 1986, extended that right to shelter to women and families. The Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 to carry out this legal mandate and became an independent mayoral agency in 1999.
Callahan v. Carey - Wikipedia, The Callahan Legacy - Coalition For The Homeless