New York City’s homelessness budget has risen while the March 2026 point‑in‑time count showed more people living on the streets, a combination that advocates say reflects duplicated outreach efforts.
The March 2026 count, conducted in Midtown, recorded an increase in street homelessness compared with previous years. At the same time, municipal spending on homelessness programs has climbed.
Advocates argue that the rise in spending is offset by inefficiencies, noting that several street outreach groups hired by different agencies are performing overlapping work. Two outreach workers described the situation as a duplication of effort.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Erin Dalton acknowledged the budget increase and indicated that the city is reviewing how outreach services are coordinated.