The rates of homelessness among seniors in New York City have never been higher, according to a new report.

In 2023, an average of 1,857 single adults over the age of 65 stayed in the Department of Health and Human Services each night, the nonprofit group LiveOn NY found.

Between 2014 and 2022, the number of single adults over the age of 65 staying in the city’s shelter system more than doubled. The senior population staying in shelters grew three times as quickly as the single youth population. 

The rising rates of senior homelessness is a symptom of the unaffordable housing crisis plaguing New York City. It’s the worst it’s been in 50 years with the vacancy rate of rentals being at just 1.4% and a much lower availability for apartments deemed affordable. To combat this, the city has implemented new regulations on Airbnb rentals, shuttering 80% of them in the city.

Meanwhile, there are about 315,000 older New Yorkers on waiting lists for subsidized apartments in federally constructed buildings reserved for adults 62 years old and up. Back in 2016, the number of senior citizens on the waiting list was about 230,000. 

With about 30,000 lottery apartments placed on the market from 2020 to 2023, the city is unable to keep up with demand. Only 10% of those lottery apartments were available in apartments reserved for seniors. 

Not to mention, many senior citizens seeking rental-controlled apartments have mobility problems, restricting their housing options.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

However, many of the senior citizens who stay in homeless shelters have found that a pipeline exists for getting them into subsidized housing. There are many new apartment buildings that contain units reserved for people who have been homeless. 

During a ten-month period ending in April, the City Department of Social Services found that 650 adults over the age of 65 moved out of the shelters and into subsidized permanent housing.