Since assuming office, Mayor Eric Adams has overseen the permanent housing of more than 3,500 homeless New Yorkers.
A significant portion of this success, over 1,000 individuals, resulted from targeted outreach within the city's subway system, a key component of the Subway Safety Plan launched in early 2022.
The plan has connected roughly 8,600 people to various shelter options. Outreach teams work to assist those with serious mental health conditions living in transit stations, aiming to relocate them into stable housing.
In addition to outreach, the city has increased shelter capacity by adding 1,600 new beds since the mayor's term began.
An additional 400 Safe Haven beds are expected by the end of 2025. These beds provide transitional housing, helping residents move toward permanent solutions.
Earlier this year, Mayor Adams announced a comprehensive 650 million dollar initiative spanning five years, designed to address homelessness and mental health challenges.
This includes the development of a dedicated facility for mentally ill individuals, a pilot project establishing 100 supportive housing beds for those transitioning from psychiatric care, and a plan to expand Safe Haven beds to 4,900 citywide.
The initiative also allocates 100 beds specifically for runaway and homeless youth between the ages of 21 and 24. A new Bridge to Home program under NYC Health plus Hospitals will offer home like environments for patients with serious mental illnesses who are ready for discharge but lack stable housing.
Mayor Adams emphasized the city's commitment to change, stating, "From the beginning, we said we needed to build trust with the city's unsheltered population, whether outside, on our subways, or in our shelters." He credited "historic investments" in affordable housing and outreach efforts for recent progress. "More work remains, but it's clear that the years of walking by New Yorkers in need are over," he added.
The city recently launched the End Anything Goes campaign to highlight its efforts to curb public disorder while expanding support services for residents facing mental illness and addiction.
The campaign seeks to reform laws and culture that have hindered vulnerable New Yorkers from accessing help, while increasing investment in outreach, harm reduction, and housing programs.