The Severity of Homelessness
According to Forbes, California accounts for more than half of all unsheltered homeless people in the entire country at 51% or 113, 660. Although more than half of the homeless population is scattered across 50 states, a quarter largely reside New York and Los Angeles.
What makes New York City’s statistics different from California’s?
New York has a “right to shelter” and a system in place that helps people find a place indoors to sleep. This right was determined in a landmark 1979 court decision. As a result, only an estimated 5% of people in New York are living on the streets.
In comparison, approximately 70% of Californians experiencing homelessness are unsheltered.