CITY SEES NEARLY 50 PERCENT DECLINE IN STREET HOMELESSNESS SINCE 2005

Overhaul of street outreach services and targeted housing options result in
30 percent reduction this year

March 4, 2009 – Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Robert V. Hess and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs today announced that street homelessness in New York City is down 30 percent since last year and 47 percent since 2005 – the first year the City conducted the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) citywide. The HOPE survey is conducted annually in January to produce an accurate estimate of the total number of unsheltered individuals on the streets and in the subway system. The Commissioner and Deputy Mayor were joined at the announcement by representatives from City agencies and homeless services not-for-profit providers.

HOPE 2009 estimates a total of 2,328 unsheltered individuals living in New York City, down from 3,306 a year ago and 4,395 individuals in 2005. The 30 percent year-to-year reduction in street homelessness corresponds with a major overhaul of the City's approach to street homelessness over the last 18 months. During that time, DHS has instituted performance standards for outreach providers that focus on permanent housing placements rather than simply the number of times a team contacts a client, significantly expanded "Housing First" options, and instituted regular interagency meetings resulting in a unified City response.

"Through HOPE, we have found a way to more accurately measure the reality of what is happening on our streets and create practical solutions that make an impact for both our clients and our communities," said Commissioner Hess.  "We have brought services curbside, and in doing so, placed thousands of the most vulnerable New Yorkers into housing.  We will continue to work hard each day to move more individuals from the streets to housing."

"Street homelessness is too often considered a fixture of city life and that is unacceptable," said Deputy Mayor Gibbs.  "That is why we work hard each day to develop innovative ways to tackle some of our most complicated urban challenges like poverty and homelessness, while also improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods.  With the increased knowledge and real data we receive each year through HOPE and targeted interventions, we’re making real progress in our work."

According to HOPE, there are an estimated 777 unsheltered individuals in Manhattan; 164 in the Bronx; 200 in Brooklyn; 98 in Queens; and 121 in Staten Island for a total of 1,360 individuals on the streets and in other public spaces. There are an estimated 968 unsheltered individuals in the subways citywide. All five boroughs saw declines in street homelessness from last year’s count. Three boroughs - Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens - showed a reduction of more than two-thirds from 2005.

Redesigned outreach and access to alternatives for chronically homeless individuals

The City credits the significant reduction to the redesign and improved management of outreach services since September 2007, plus the creation of evidenced-based "Housing First" housing options that allow chronically street homeless clients to move from the street directly into housing. Since the reorganization of DHS' street outreach services in the fall of 2007, more than 3,000 individuals have moved from the street into housing, including 1,200 chronically homeless individuals.

DHS and its not-for-profit partners recognize that the street homeless population of New York City has diverse needs and that the chronically street homeless often choose not to enter traditional shelters. DHS has therefore developed a broad array of options to transition individuals from the street directly into housing, tailoring the appropriate combination of services to each client. By welcoming creative solutions to practical problems, DHS has helped more clients to accept alternatives to shelter and take the first steps toward new and independent lives.

Safe Havens and Stabilization beds have also been a critical part of the solution. Safe Havens are smaller alternatives to traditional shelters with fewer restrictions to entry and stabilization beds provide safe, clean and basic housing to chronically homeless street clients as they wait for permanent housing applications to be processed and continue to be served by their outreach workers. During the Bloomberg Administration, nearly 300 Safe Haven beds and 150 stabilization beds were made available to street homeless individuals, with a total commitment of 500 Safe Haven beds and 180 stabilization beds by fiscal year 2010.

Critical partnerships

In September 2007, DHS, in partnership with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, reorganized outreach services in New York City from more than one dozen contracts to four principal contracts with clear geographic areas of responsibility and performance guidelines.  The four outreach contractors are Goddard-Riverside/Manhattan Outreach Consortium in Manhattan, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in the Bronx, Common Ground in Brooklyn and Queens and Project Hospitality in Staten Island. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also provides outreach services to homeless individuals on its facilities through its contract with Bowery Residents' Committee.

The Parks Department, Sanitation Department and the Police Department also collaborate with DHS to reduce street homelessness. DHS conducts monthly StreetStat meetings with all partners and outreach providers to exchange best practices and lessons learned. These interagency sessions promote data sharing and allow for routine measurement of targeted responses.

Methodology of the survey

More than 2,000 New Yorkers volunteered their time for the HOPE survey, which was conducted on Monday, January 26, 2009. As the fifth citywide survey, the 2009 estimate aimed to gauge the success of DHS’ efforts to reduce street homelessness in all five boroughs. This year, volunteers each took more than 10,000 steps to complete the survey. The HOPE survey is nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as the national best practice standard for this type of homeless count. An additional quality assurance measure, known as the decoy count, is also employed. An independent research team from the Hunter College School of Social Work placed decoys in some areas that volunteers surveyed. Decoys ensure that volunteers cover every part of their assigned areas and that they interview everyone they see. The City adjusts its final estimate based on the percentage of decoys missed.

"Although many other U.S. cities participate in surveys such as HOPE, New York demonstrates extra initiative and precision through its use of the decoy count," said Professor Steve Burghardt, leader of the decoy project at CUNY. "The measure not only ensures a quality estimate, but also validates the City’s consistent methodology through an impartial and unbiased means."

To View the Homeless Outreach Population Estimate Results, click here .