Statistics and Studies

Homelessness in Broome County encompasses both people sleeping in places not meant for habitation (under bridges, in cars, etc.) and those in emergency shelters or contracted hotel rooms. In 2023, nearly 2,000 people sought shelter—715 family members and 1,252 individuals. While family shelter use has jumped 180% since 2020, individual shelter stays fell 40%, masked by a 381% surge in unsheltered individuals (from 16 to 77 nightly). With roughly 150 shelter beds and another 300 hotel rooms—and rising hotel usage up by 247 beds since 2020—the County spends more than $7 million annually on emergency shelter, not counting Code Blue costs.

Yet true housing instability extends beyond shelter: of 831 homeless school-age children in 2022–23, 580 were “doubled-up” in overcrowded, temporary homes, driving up student mobility to 40% in some districts and inflicting lasting trauma. Meanwhile, the County’s housing stock skews heavily toward student (3,700 new off-campus beds since 2012) and luxury units (≈175 high-rent apartments by 2020), while only 500 affordable/subsidized units emerged over the same period. With average rents at $1,100 for a 3 BR—well above the $450–$625 affordable range for extremely low-income households—49% of all renters (89% of the lowest-income) are cost-burdened, and waitlists for subsidized housing average 26–32 months.

Broome County already has the data and proven policy tools to turn the tide—but lacks focused leadership. A four-pillar approach can work here: Prevent displacement through eviction protections and tenant‐rights enforcement; Protect the unhoused via nondiscrimination and safe‐camp ordinances; Preserve existing affordable units with proactive code enforcement and preservation incentives; and Produce new, deeply affordable homes via dedicated local funding (Broome County Housing Trust Fund) and inclusionary zoning. Our next steps must treat every unhoused person as a neighbor deserving dignity, not just a statistic, if we’re to move from crisis management to lasting solutions.