New York State Report Shows Regional Homelessness Spikes

The Office of the New York State Comptroller released a report detailing regional trends in homelessness, showing a statewide decrease of nearly 8% between January 2024 and January 2025. However, the data reveals sharp increases in specific regions. Homelessness rose by 35% in the Continuum of Care covering Broome, Otsego, Chenango, Delaware, Cortland, and Tioga counties, and by 30% in Clinton County between 2025 and 2026.

Conversely, some areas saw declines, including the Ithaca/Tompkins County region, which dropped by approximately 13%, and the region covering Steuben, Allegany, Livingston, Chemung, and Schuyler counties, which fell over 16%. A critical finding in the report is that children make up 31.7% of New York's unhoused population, which is double the national average.

Officials attribute these regional spikes to soaring housing prices, cost-of-living increases, and a shortage of affordable housing. In response to these trends, the government of Clinton County established a crisis stabilization and warming center in Plattsburgh. Richelle Gregory noted that while 98% of the homeless population in Clinton County is sheltered, rising costs of building materials and a stagnant housing system hinder the transition to permanent housing.