HOME-STAT's new nighttime counts—one each in Spring, Summer and Fall—supplement the official, federally mandated winter Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) Count to provide a more complete, year-round picture of street homelessness in the City.
The Spring 2016 quarterly count—the first comprehensive citywide quarterly count of street homelessness—took place on Monday, May 2, from midnight to 4 a.m.
The quarterly count was conducted from midnight to 4 a.m. Visual observations were made from vehicles and on foot. Observers canvassed streets and sidewalks, end-of-line subway trains and select subway stations, select parks and other open spaces, and select transit hubs.
The quarterly count was performed primarily by the Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS) contracted street outreach providers with assistance from staff and volunteers from DHS, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the New York Police Department’s Transit Bureau and Crisis Outreach and Support Unit (formerly referred to as the Homeless Outreach Unit), the Human Resources Administration, and the Mayor’s Office of Operations.
Observers took into account the appearance, behavior, and conditions of individuals to assess whether a person might be street homeless. They recorded information on the location and observable demographics and conditions of people they assessed as street homeless. Observers did not interview or interact with individuals.
Spring 2016 Quarterly Count
Summer 2016 Quarterly Count
Fall 2016 Quarterly Count
Spring 2017 Quarterly Count
Summer 2017 Quarterly Count
Fall 2017 Quarterly Count