Coalition for the Homeless
@nyhomeless.bsky.social
The nation's oldest advocacy and direct service organization helping homeless individuals and families
coalitionforthehomeless.org
coalitionforthehomeless.org
Pinned
State of the Homeless 2025 - Coalition For The Homeless
State of the Homeless 2025 Nowhere to Go Download report Table of Contents Executive Summary I. Introduction II. Trajectory of Mass Homelessness in New York Drivers of Homelessness Shelter Exits III. ...
www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
State of the Homeless 2025 is out. The NYC shelter census surged by ~12% in 2024, with affordable housing vacancy rates at a record low. Read how political theater has replaced real solutions, leaving tens of thousands with nowhere to go. Read More: www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/state-of-the...
Troy, from our Client Advocacy Group and Reynaldo, from @vocal-ny.bsky.social's Homelessness Union penned an op-ed in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social about wifi in NYC shelters. Access to wifi is a lifeline, a crucial tool for securing work, housing, and much more. citylimits.org/opinion-wi-f...
November 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Troy, from our Client Advocacy Group and Reynaldo, from @vocal-ny.bsky.social's Homelessness Union penned an op-ed in @citylimitsnews.bsky.social about wifi in NYC shelters. Access to wifi is a lifeline, a crucial tool for securing work, housing, and much more. citylimits.org/opinion-wi-f...
"Every step we need to take to get out of the shelter system involves using the internet to access resources, apply for jobs, and submit rental applications." Wifi isn't a luxury. It is a basic human need. @gonzalez4ny.bsky.social @citylimitsnews.bsky.social citylimits.org/opinion-wi-f...
Opinion: Wi-Fi Isn't a Luxury - City Limits
"Every step we need to take to get out of the shelter system involves using the internet to access resources, apply for jobs, and submit rental applications. You might think shelters would provide us ...
citylimits.org
November 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"Every step we need to take to get out of the shelter system involves using the internet to access resources, apply for jobs, and submit rental applications." Wifi isn't a luxury. It is a basic human need. @gonzalez4ny.bsky.social @citylimitsnews.bsky.social citylimits.org/opinion-wi-f...
Our Executive Director @giffendave.bsky.social spoke with @gothamist.com about the dangers of using NYPD officers for homeless outreach in our subways. gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
October 30, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Our Executive Director @giffendave.bsky.social spoke with @gothamist.com about the dangers of using NYPD officers for homeless outreach in our subways. gothamist.com/news/mamdani...
@giffendave.bsky.social, Exec. Dir. of @nyhomeless.bsky.social spoke with Troy Closson for @nytimes.com, saying the increase in homeless students “is so profoundly obscene that I don’t know how the No. 1 priority of any administration isn’t ensuring that everyone in the city has a place to live.”
140,000 N.Y.C. Students Are Homeless. Can the Next Mayor Change That?
www.nytimes.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:34 PM
@giffendave.bsky.social, Exec. Dir. of @nyhomeless.bsky.social spoke with Troy Closson for @nytimes.com, saying the increase in homeless students “is so profoundly obscene that I don’t know how the No. 1 priority of any administration isn’t ensuring that everyone in the city has a place to live.”
It’s not a homelessness crisis — it’s a housing crisis. @nyhomeless.bsky.social Executive Director @giffendave.bsky.social speaks with @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/n...
September 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
It’s not a homelessness crisis — it’s a housing crisis. @nyhomeless.bsky.social Executive Director @giffendave.bsky.social speaks with @nytimes.com. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/23/n...
“We’ve been referring to this as a homelessness crisis for five decades,” said @giffendave.bsky.social, Executive Director of @nyhomeless.bsky.social. “It’s not a homelessness crisis — it’s a housing crisis.”
How the N.Y.C. Mayoral Candidates Plan to Tackle Homelessness
www.nytimes.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
“We’ve been referring to this as a homelessness crisis for five decades,” said @giffendave.bsky.social, Executive Director of @nyhomeless.bsky.social. “It’s not a homelessness crisis — it’s a housing crisis.”
Trump’s FY26 budget cuts $4.5 billion from housing programs in NYC, threatening support for over 1 million residents through NYCHA and Section 8. These cuts risk destabilizing entire neighborhoods. 1/
September 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Trump’s FY26 budget cuts $4.5 billion from housing programs in NYC, threatening support for over 1 million residents through NYCHA and Section 8. These cuts risk destabilizing entire neighborhoods. 1/
We joined with more than a dozen organizations to discuss the impact of catastrophic federal cuts to services for homeless New Yorkers. You can read our testimony here: www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/wp-content/u...
September 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We joined with more than a dozen organizations to discuss the impact of catastrophic federal cuts to services for homeless New Yorkers. You can read our testimony here: www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/wp-content/u...
As summer comes to a close, we reflect on another busy season of our youth programs. With your help, we were able to distribute nearly 7k backpacks to students living in NYC shelters, provide an enriching summer day camp, and welcome more than 300 campers to Camp Homeward Bound. Latest blog here:
Our Youth Programs Over Summer 2025: Wrapping up Project: Back to School, Bound for Success, and Camp Homeward Bound - Coalition For The Homeless
This summer marked another busy season for Coalition for the Homeless youth programs. Project: Back to School, Bound for Success, and Camp Homeward Bound touched the lives of thousands of homeless chi...
www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
September 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
As summer comes to a close, we reflect on another busy season of our youth programs. With your help, we were able to distribute nearly 7k backpacks to students living in NYC shelters, provide an enriching summer day camp, and welcome more than 300 campers to Camp Homeward Bound. Latest blog here:
Mayor Adams' approach to homelessness isn't working. 43% of those taken to hospitals by co-response teams are discharged right back onto the streets. It's an inhumane revolving door and needs to stop. www.crainsnewyork.com/health-pulse... 1/
Adams' involuntary hospital transports often fail to meet admission criteria
Mayor Eric Adams' push to take more people to the hospital involuntarily as a way to connect individuals with serious mental illnesses to services has struggled to get many people admitted to care, da...
www.crainsnewyork.com
September 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Mayor Adams' approach to homelessness isn't working. 43% of those taken to hospitals by co-response teams are discharged right back onto the streets. It's an inhumane revolving door and needs to stop. www.crainsnewyork.com/health-pulse... 1/
“This focus on involuntary treatment of those with mental health problems is not new, and it really is an insult to the public, who has seen this approach fail already in the past. The solution—the only solution—to homelessness is decommodified housing..."
The Real Cause of Homelessness
For decades, a misleading narrative about mental illness among the unhoused obscured the true source of the crisis: hyper-commodified housing.
progressive.org
September 9, 2025 at 6:32 PM
“This focus on involuntary treatment of those with mental health problems is not new, and it really is an insult to the public, who has seen this approach fail already in the past. The solution—the only solution—to homelessness is decommodified housing..."
“By requesting permission from the court to appeal this decision, Mayor Eric Adams is once again prioritizing bureaucratic delay over the urgent needs of families facing eviction and homelessness,” said Robert Desir, staff attorney at @legalaidnyc.bsky.social.
It's been roughly two years since the administration was due to implement the laws, which would make rental vouchers available to more people living outside of shelters and increase the income eligibility threshold for CityFHEPS, among other reforms. bit.ly/3HTBzU1
Adams' Administration Delays CityFHEPS Expansion Again, Asks Court for Appeal - City Limits
After an appeals court ruled the mayor must implement a package of bills expanding eligibility for CityFHEPS housing vouchers, the Adams administration asked the court for permission to appeal the dec...
bit.ly
September 9, 2025 at 2:55 PM
“By requesting permission from the court to appeal this decision, Mayor Eric Adams is once again prioritizing bureaucratic delay over the urgent needs of families facing eviction and homelessness,” said Robert Desir, staff attorney at @legalaidnyc.bsky.social.
There is a proven way to end homelessness in New York. It has worked before, and it will work again. It’s called Housing First. Cheaper for the tax payer, and a solution that will improve the lives of all NYers. gothamist.com/news/a-new-t...
![A quote card that reads: “The [housing first approach] moved homeless vets into permanent housing and then provided them with the mental health care and other services that they needed, and it worked. Chronic homelessness among vets is functionally zero in New York.” This was said by Dave Giffen, Executive Director Coalition for the Homeless.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gm336idemvaija2ylrgfxbsy/bafkreieladydc245zgbml4vuc2q5ei6bpd5svw7wkhr6sbzxdlrr2l5djy@jpeg)
September 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
There is a proven way to end homelessness in New York. It has worked before, and it will work again. It’s called Housing First. Cheaper for the tax payer, and a solution that will improve the lives of all NYers. gothamist.com/news/a-new-t...
Reposted by Coalition for the Homeless
“ Most cases don’t end up in evictions,” said Jenny Laurie of Housing Court Answers, which assists tenants navigating the housing court system.
Here's what New Yorkers can do if they’re struggling to make rent, or facing the threat of eviction: bit.ly/45V9uDP
Here's what New Yorkers can do if they’re struggling to make rent, or facing the threat of eviction: bit.ly/45V9uDP
What You Need to Know If You’re Struggling to Pay Rent in NYC - City Limits
City Limits combed through city government and non-profit documents and spoke to experts to get their take on what renters can do if they’re struggling to make rent, or facing the threat of eviction.
bit.ly
August 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
“ Most cases don’t end up in evictions,” said Jenny Laurie of Housing Court Answers, which assists tenants navigating the housing court system.
Here's what New Yorkers can do if they’re struggling to make rent, or facing the threat of eviction: bit.ly/45V9uDP
Here's what New Yorkers can do if they’re struggling to make rent, or facing the threat of eviction: bit.ly/45V9uDP
Reposted by Coalition for the Homeless
“Sweeps, crackdowns, and mass hospitalizations may make homelessness less visible for a moment, but they don’t solve it. They just push suffering out of view—until it resurfaces again, often worse.” bit.ly/41YoEa1
Opinion: Forced Hospitalization Isn’t the Answer—Housing, Healthcare, and Compassion Are - City Limits
"Sweeps, crackdowns, and mass hospitalizations may make homelessness less visible for a moment, but they don’t solve it. They just push suffering out of view—until it resurfaces again, often worse."
bit.ly
August 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
“Sweeps, crackdowns, and mass hospitalizations may make homelessness less visible for a moment, but they don’t solve it. They just push suffering out of view—until it resurfaces again, often worse.” bit.ly/41YoEa1
We are honored @CBSEveningNews "Eye on America" chose to highlight Camp Homeward Bound, our sleepaway summer camp for homeless youth. Watch the full piece here: www.cbsnews.com/news/sleepaw...
Sleepaway camp Homeward Bound offers New York City homeless kids a place to belong
Camp Homeward Bound is a summer sleepaway camp designed specifically for children who come from New York City homeless and domestic violence shelters.
www.cbsnews.com
August 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We are honored @CBSEveningNews "Eye on America" chose to highlight Camp Homeward Bound, our sleepaway summer camp for homeless youth. Watch the full piece here: www.cbsnews.com/news/sleepaw...
Reposted by Coalition for the Homeless
August 26, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Tune in to @cbseveningnews.bsky.social tonight to watch “Eye on America” on the Coalition's Camp Homeward Bound!
August 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Tune in to @cbseveningnews.bsky.social tonight to watch “Eye on America” on the Coalition's Camp Homeward Bound!
“...this plan isn’t going to address the needs of New Yorkers who are concerned about what’s going on in public spaces or of people on the streets or subways, because it will just be another revolving door of streets and subways to hospitals and back again,” Steve Banks said.
Mayor Eric Adams of New York City on Thursday vowed to seek the state’s permission to forcibly remove drug users from the city’s streets without their consent. The mayor also called for allowing hospital workers to mandate treatment with court approval.
Adams Pushes to Force Drug Users Off NYC Streets
As he runs a long-shot third-party bid for re-election, Mayor Eric Adams is proposing an aggressive approach, favored by conservatives, of combating open drug use.
nyti.ms
August 15, 2025 at 8:16 PM
“...this plan isn’t going to address the needs of New Yorkers who are concerned about what’s going on in public spaces or of people on the streets or subways, because it will just be another revolving door of streets and subways to hospitals and back again,” Steve Banks said.
Today, @council.nyc.gov passed critical legislation that eliminates the unnecessary barriers that have prevented people released from jails and prison from accessing supportive housing, simply because the time they spent incarcerated wasn't counted as being 'homeless.'
August 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Today, @council.nyc.gov passed critical legislation that eliminates the unnecessary barriers that have prevented people released from jails and prison from accessing supportive housing, simply because the time they spent incarcerated wasn't counted as being 'homeless.'
"The one thing we don't want to do is criminalize people for something that is out of their control...Sending in the National Guard, sending in the military, sending in even the local police is not the solution to homelessness. It solves nothing," @giffendave.bsky.social CFTH Exec. Director said.
NYC homeless advocates react to President Trump's plan of "getting rid of the slums where they live"
President Trump on Monday announced plans to use the National Guard to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C. He also spoke about the homeless.
www.cbsnews.com
August 12, 2025 at 4:04 PM
"The one thing we don't want to do is criminalize people for something that is out of their control...Sending in the National Guard, sending in the military, sending in even the local police is not the solution to homelessness. It solves nothing," @giffendave.bsky.social CFTH Exec. Director said.
The number of unsheltered New Yorkers actually increased last year – and every year since Adams took office. We need affordable housing for extremely low income NYers and increased access to mobile mental health treatment teams, which have long waitlists.
Mayor Adams says his administration has housed 3,500 unsheltered New Yorkers https://gothamist.com/news/mayor-adams-says-his-administration-has-housed-3500-unsheltered-new-yorkers
Mayor Adams says his administration has housed 3,500 unsheltered New Yorkers
Mayor Eric Adams delivers remarks at a Street Homeless Advocacy Project open house in 2022.
Advocates say more could be done to address the city’s homelessness crisis. [ more › ]
gothamist.com
August 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The number of unsheltered New Yorkers actually increased last year – and every year since Adams took office. We need affordable housing for extremely low income NYers and increased access to mobile mental health treatment teams, which have long waitlists.
“So many of these kids have been devalued and dehumanized just going through the shelter experience, so to be able to come to a place like this...— it is a truly freeing experience.” @giffendave.bsky.social, Exec. Dir. for @nyhomeless.bsky.social told @nytimes.com
A Summertime Haven for Homeless Children
For a few weeks at sleep-away camp, the challenges of difficult lives in New York City are a world away.
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
“So many of these kids have been devalued and dehumanized just going through the shelter experience, so to be able to come to a place like this...— it is a truly freeing experience.” @giffendave.bsky.social, Exec. Dir. for @nyhomeless.bsky.social told @nytimes.com
"For the past 4 decades, the camp, which is run by the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless, has provided refuge to 1000s of the youngest residents of the city’s homeless shelters”. Sarah Maslin Nir and @moniquejaques.bsky.social visited Camp Homeward Bound this year. Their feature in @nytimes.com.
A Summertime Haven for Homeless Children
For a few weeks at sleep-away camp, the challenges of difficult lives in New York City are a world away.
www.nytimes.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"For the past 4 decades, the camp, which is run by the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless, has provided refuge to 1000s of the youngest residents of the city’s homeless shelters”. Sarah Maslin Nir and @moniquejaques.bsky.social visited Camp Homeward Bound this year. Their feature in @nytimes.com.
The Coalition’s Disability Focus Group discusses issues impacting homeless New Yorkers with disabilities. This Disability Pride Month, the group released a section of their How To Guide for homeless individuals with disabilities. www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/how-to-guide...
How To Guide: Disability Resources - Coalition For The Homeless
How To Guide Disability Resources Table of Contents Introduction Section Three: When In Shelter How to Maintain your Shelter Placement How To Obtain Reasonable Accommodations What to Expect in Differe...
www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
July 31, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The Coalition’s Disability Focus Group discusses issues impacting homeless New Yorkers with disabilities. This Disability Pride Month, the group released a section of their How To Guide for homeless individuals with disabilities. www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/how-to-guide...