By Sasha Gonzales
[email protected]
For the first time, the number of single adults sleeping each night in New York City homeless shelters, including safe havens and stabilization beds, climbed to more than 20,000 (20,210), according to a new report from Coalition for the Homeless.
With more single adults sleeping in shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic than at any time in history, advocates urged Governor Cuomo to prioritize permanent supportive housing in a press conference today.
Between May and August, the age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rate for homeless New Yorkers sleeping in shelters was 78 percent higher than the citywide average, according to the report.
“If there is one thing the pandemic has taught us, it is that housing is health care,” said Giselle Routhier, Policy Director of Coalition for the Homeless. “Our homeless neighbors need the safety and stability of a home. Governor Cuomo knows how life-changing supportive housing can be for the most vulnerable New Yorkers – now we need him to follow through on the promise he made five years ago to fund 20,000 units of this desperately needed housing.”