Amid rising concerns over New York City’s deepening housing crisis, the number of homeless shelter residents moving into NYCHA units has plunged sharply, even as thousands of public apartments remain unused. In 2024, only 500 shelter residents found placement—far fewer than the 1,500 in 2021. While City Hall vows to fix the gap, critics say the mayor’s spotlight leans more on street sweeps and police than lasting shelter. As pressure builds, the fight between promises and placements continues—silent rooms waiting, hopeful hearts stalled.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Shelter-to-public housing placements fell from 1,500 in 2021 to just 500 in 2024

• Thousands of NYCHA apartments remain vacant across the city

• City says reforms will increase housing placements this fiscal year

• Critics say sweeps and police deployment take priority over permanent housing

• Encampment sweeps displaced 3,500 people last year, only 114 were sheltered

• Mayor’s office cites tens of thousands moved into housing under current administration

• Officials urge greater action from state and federal governments

Despite growing concern over homelessness and the availability of public housing in New York City, new data reveals a striking slowdown in the number of shelter residents moving into permanent homes through the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). While thousands of NYCHA units remain unoccupied, only 500 individuals living in shelters were relocated into these apartments in 2024. That number stands in stark contrast to the 1,500 placements made in 2021—highlighting a significant dip that housing advocates say is deeply troubling.

The Adams administration, however, maintains that this downward trend is being addressed. City officials claim recent changes to the placement process have removed bureaucratic hurdles and will result in a doubling of placements before the current fiscal year concludes. Yet, critics remain unconvinced, arguing that the administration’s emphasis lies elsewhere—more on policing public spaces and less on developing sustainable housing solutions.

The Coalition for the Homeless and other advocates have pointed to what they see as a misplaced focus in the city’s homelessness policy. Rather than investing resources into transitioning individuals out of shelters and into long-term housing, they argue the Adams administration has devoted much of its effort toward increasing police presence and conducting street-level sweeps.

These so-called “cleanups” of homeless encampments, which spanned nine months last year, reportedly displaced around 3,500 individuals. Of that number, just 114 were ultimately placed into shelters—a statistic that has sparked questions about the efficacy and human cost of such operations.

In response to the criticism, City Hall has defended the mayor’s approach, describing it as a practical balance between compassion and action. William Fowler, a spokesperson for City Hall, emphasized that Mayor Adams has helped tens of thousands of homeless New Yorkers move into housing, despite ongoing challenges.

Fowler also highlighted the mayor’s broader housing agenda, including significant investments in the development of affordable housing and the ambitious City of Yes zoning plan. The plan, he noted, is designed to unlock space for over 80,000 new homes across the city over the next 15 years—a long-term effort to address the housing crisis at its roots.

“Mayor Adams has been clear that there is no dignity in withering away on the streets without the ability to help yourself, and there is no moral superiority in just walking by those individuals and doing nothing,” Fowler said in a written statement defending the administration’s direction.

He went on to point out that New York City has, for decades, carried a disproportionate share of the cost and responsibility for housing the vulnerable, especially as support from state and federal governments has declined. “Whether it’s addressing the migrant crisis or providing a safety net to all New Yorkers, our city has continuously stepped up where others have stepped back,” he said.

City officials are now calling on state and federal partners to provide stronger backing—not only in funding but in actionable policy—to relieve the mounting pressure on local resources. They argue that while City Hall can take initiative, larger structural support is essential to create lasting change.

Still, advocates remain firm in their position: clearing streets does not equate to solving homelessness. As the number of vacant NYCHA units continues to rise, the pressure to convert promises into placements grows ever more urgent.